SEPTEMBER 06, 2015, Vol 65, No 18

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 6, 2015

SINGAPORE $0.70 CENTS / WEST MALAYSIA RM$2.10

MCI (P) 009/08/2015

PPS 201/04/2013 (022940)

VOL 65

NO. 18

INSIDE HOME Rosaries for SG50 7KH ÀUVW VXFK YLVLW VLQFH 6LQJDSRUH HVWDEOLVKHG GLSORPDWLF UHODWLRQV ZLWK WKH +RO\ 6HH LQ

„ Page 5

By Jared Ng The Church in Singapore is called to chart a way forward for herself and in her service to society in the next 50 years.

This was a message that Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, had for the 500-strong congregation gathered at St Joseph’s Church, Victoria St, on Aug 16. “While much has been achieved over the span of 50 \HDUV WKH ZRUN LV QHYHU ÂżQLVKHG ´ KH VDLG DGGLQJ WKDW ÂłWKH WRUFK´ would have to be “passed on to WKH QH[W JHQHUDWLRQ RI FLWL]HQV´ Cardinal Parolin, considered WKH KLJKHVW 9DWLFDQ RIÂżFLDO XQGHU the pope, was in Singapore for an RIÂżFLDO YLVLW IURP $XJ ,W ZDV WKH ÂżUVW VXFK YLVLW IURP D 9DWLcan Secretary of State since Singapore established diplomatic relations with the Holy See in 1981. ,Q KLV KRPLO\ IRU WKH )HDVW RI the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, he noted how on July 4, the Church here rejoiced in prayers and festivity during its SG50 celebration at the Singapore ,QGRRU 6WDGLXP Âł, MRLQ LQ \RXU JODGQHVV DQG congratulate you, wishing peace and prosperity for your beloved FRXQWU\ ´ KH VDLG Noting that the Catholic Church has been present in Singapore for almost 200 years, he invited the community to “look with some urgency at new and creative ways of carrying forward the proclamation of the Gospel of salvation in a changing society. “This includes addressing the new challenges that emerge in a globalised and more connected world; offering practical assistance to an emerging reality in QHHG RI JXLGDQFH ´ The cardinal said he was glad to note that the Church here serves

Nativity Church prays for the nation

S’pore team assists Cambodian girl Helps her get heart condition treated here „ Page 7

ASIA Tianjin disaster Catholics evacuate residents, render aid „ Page 11

WORLD Healing for Gaza kids Cardinal Pietro Parolin greets local Catholics after celebrating Mass at St Joseph’s Church, Victoria St, on Aug 16. Photo: DOMINIC WONG

QRW RQO\ LQ WKH ÂżHOGV RI HGXFDWLRQ and health but also cares for the poor, the elderly, those marginalised by sickness, and offenders. “We should not, however, simply allow these initiatives, good though they undoubtedly are, to obscure the personal obligation, incumbent on each one of us, to be a disciple of Jesus Christ in reaching out to the lost, the last and the OHDVW ´ KH VDLG As Singapore continues to progress in its contribution to the

‘

international community, he said it is important for the Church to be in partnership with all people of good will “in recognising the place of religious faiths, virtue and morality as essential foundaWLRQV RI D VRFLHW\ DQG QDWLRQ´ Prior to the Mass, in the presence of Archbishop William Goh, apostolic nuncio Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli and other Church RIÂżFLDOV KH EOHVVHG FRPPHPRUDWLYH SODTXHV IRU ÂżYH FKXUFKHV most of which have been recently

I join in your gladness and congratulate you, wishing peace and prosperity for your beloved country.

’

– Cardinal Pietro Parolin

renovated, undergoing renovation, or being built.

These were: Church of the 7UDQV¿JXUDWLRQ &DWKHGUDO RI WKH Good Shepherd, Novena Church, Church of Sts Peter and Paul and St Joseph’s Church, Victoria St. Later in the afternoon, Cardinal Parolin visited Church institutions such as St Patrick’s School, Mount Alvernia Hospital, Assisi Hospice, St Theresa’s Home, St )UDQFLV ;DYLHU 0DMRU 6HPLQDU\ and the Carmelite Monastery.

2Q $XJ KH PHW ZLWK JRYernment leaders and congratulated them on the nation’s golden jubilee. Additional reporting: CHRISTOPHER KHOO jared.ng@catholic.org.sg „ See photos on Page 2

Church agencies use art therapy, puppets „ Page 15

POPE FRANCIS The ‘best parties’ are family parties Pope on the importance of celebrations „ Page 16

OPINION Using adult stem cells for treatment Proven and effective „ Page 20

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Sunday September 6, 2015 CatholicNews

Cardinal Parolin celebrating the Feast of the Assumption Mass with Archbishop William Goh, apostolic nuncio Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, and priests.

Photos: DOMINIC WONG

Cardinal Parolin prays with Archbishop Emeritus Nicholas Chia at St Theresa’s Home.

Fr Ignatius Yeo shows Cardinal Parolin the church plaques for his blessing.

Above: Staff of Mount Alvernia Hospital are overjoyed at meeting the Vatican Secretary of State.

The cardinal is warmly welcomed at the St Francis Xavier Major Seminary.

Praying at St Patrick’s School chapel.

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Sunday September 6, 2015 „ CatholicNews

‘Communion’ within local Church stressed at workshops Strong call for unity within archdiocese made at New Evangelisation workshops for parishes and other Church groups 7KH &KXUFK LQ 6LQJDSRUH FDQ only move forward if there is unity among parishes, ministries DQG DUFKGLRFHVDQ RUJDQLVDWLRQV :LWKRXW VXFK D FRPPXQLRQ WKH &KXUFK ZRXOG QRW EH G\QDPLF YLEUDQW DQG HYDQJHOLFDO This was the sobering message WKDW $UFKELVKRS :LOOLDP *RK DQG )U 7HUHQFH 3HUHLUD (SLVFRSDO 9LFDU IRU WKH 1HZ (YDQJHOLVDtion, had for representatives of SDULVKHV JDWKHUHG DW WKH &KXUFK RI WKH ,PPDFXODWH +HDUW RI 0DU\ RQ $XJ The morning meeting was FRQYHQHG WR ODXQFK WKH )RXU 7HQets of the New Evangelisation – :RUG :RUVKLS &RPPXQLRQ DQG Witness (see story below) – with WKH HPSKDVLV RQ FRPPXQLRQ $UFKELVKRS *RK LQ KLV RSHQLQJ DGGUHVV KLJKOLJKWHG WKH FRQVHTXHQFHV RI FRQVWDQW GLVDJUHHPHQW DPRQJ &KXUFK ERGLHV “If we do not have one mind, RQH KHDUW RQH VRXO RQH FRQYLFWLRQ ZH ZLOO QHYHU PRYH IRUZDUG That’s the problem we have in the &KXUFK QRZ ´ KH VDLG ÂłGLVDJUHHing with everything among ourVHOYHV´ Âł+RZ FDQ ZH WHOO SHRSOH WKDW RXU PLVVLRQ LV FRPPXQLRQ when we are divided, [when] we DUH ÂżJKWLQJ ZLWK HDFK RWKHU"´ KH DVNHG Âł$V &KXUFK FRPPXQLRQ LV IXQGDPHQWDO :LWKRXW FRPPXQLRQ HYHU\WKLQJ IDOOV DSDUW ´ )U 7HUHQFH LQ KLV DGGUHVV noted that “one thing that is happening right now is that the orJDQLVDWLRQV WKH DUFKGLRFHVDQ FRPPLVVLRQV DQG WKH SDULVKHV DUH ZRUNLQJ VHSDUDWHO\´ If everyone is “doing their WKLQJ´ WKLV ÂłZRQÂśW SURGXFH WKH NLQGV RI UHVXOWV RU REMHFWLYHV DQG JRDOV WKDW ZH ZDQW WR UHDFK Âą D G\QDPLF YLEUDQW HYDQJHOLFDO &KXUFK´ KH VDLG “If all of us work towards FRPPXQLRQ IRU WKH QH[W RQH WZR WKUHH \HDUV ZH ZLOO KDYH D FHUWDLQ foundation to build the other tenHWV DV ZHOO ´ 3DUWLFLSDQWV WKHQ EURNH XS LQWR WKHLU RZQ SDULVKHV 7KH\ ZHUH DVNHG WR LGHQWLI\ D IHZ ÂłVWUHQJWKV´ LQ WKHLU SDULVK WKDW SURPRWH FRP-

If we do not have one ‘mind, one heart, one soul, one conviction, we will never move forward.

That’s the problem we have in the Church now ... disagreeing with everything among ourselves.

’

– Archbishop William Goh

munion and how their parish FRXOG EXLOG RQ WKHVH They were also asked to idenWLI\ D IHZ ³ZHDNQHVVHV´ WKDW KLQGHU FRPPXQLRQ DQG ZKDW needed to be done to address WKHP During the plenary session that followed, parish representaWLYHV VKDUHG HLWKHU D ³VWUHQJWK´ RU ³ZHDNQHVV´ ZLWK WKH ZKROH DVVHPEO\ 6RPH RI WKH ³VWUHQJWKV´ LQFOXGHG ³VWURQJ IHOORZVKLS´ DPRQJ PHPEHUV MRLQW SURMHFWV E\ SDULVK FRPPXQLWLHV DQG D VWURQJ ZHOFRPLQJ VSLULW HVSHFLDOO\ WR IRUHLJQHUV 6RPH RI WKH ZHDNQHVVHV LQFOXGHG SDULVK PLQLVWULHV ³RSHUDWLQJ LQ VLORV´ LQ LVRODWLRQ IURP RQH another; being task-driven as opposed to being relationship- and FRPPXQLW\ RULHQWHG D ODFN RI formation for individual minis-

One thing that is ‘ happening right now is that the organisations, the archdiocesan commissions and the parishes are working separately.

’

– Fr Terence Pereira, Episcopal Vicar for the New Evangelisation

WULHV DQG D ODFN RI VHQVH RI FRPPXQLW\ )U 7HUHQFH LQ VXPPLQJ XS said that “honestly looking at ourselves and our weaknesses will alORZ XV WR IRFXV RQ ZKHUH ZH QHHG WR JURZ´ +H XUJHG SDUWLFLSDQWV WR ÂłFRQWLQXH WKLV GLDORJXH´ ZLWK WKHLU SDULVK DQG PLQLVWU\ PHPEHUV +H DGGHG WKDW VXFK D GLDORJXH VKRXOG LQFOXGH WKH YDULRXV DUFKGLRFHVDQ FRPPLVVLRQV DV ZHOO 3DUWLFLSDQWV VDLG WKH\ DJUHHG with the message the workshop GHOLYHUHG 0V $QJHOD 6FKRROLQJ IURP WKH &KXUFK RI 6W %HUQDGHWWH VDLG WKHUH LV GHÂżQLWHO\ D QHHG IRU EHWWHU FRPPXQLRQ DPRQJ SDULVK JURXSV 6KH DGGHG WKDW SDULVK PLQLVWULHV WHQG WR EH ÂłLQZDUG´ ORRNLQJ IRFXVLQJ RQ WKHLU RZQ ZRUN DQG felt there should be inter-ministry

The tenets of the New Evangelisation The four tenets of the New Evangelisation, as outlined by the OfÂżFH IRU WKH 1HZ (YDQJHOLVDWLRQ are: The Word: We seek and exSHULHQFH ZLWK MR\ D SHUVRQDO UHODtionship with Jesus through a perVRQDO HQFRXQWHU DQG UH HQFRXQWHU ZLWK +LP WKDW OHDGV WR FRQWLQXDO FRQYHUVLRQ DQG D GHHSHQLQJ RI FRPPLWPHQW WR +LP Worship: We renew the vi-

EUDQF\ RI OLWXUJLFDO FHOHEUDWLRQV HVSHFLDOO\ WKH (XFKDULVW E\ wholehearted and prayerful prepDUDWLRQ DQG SDUWLFLSDWLRQ DQG ZH FHOHEUDWH WKH VDFUDPHQWV DXWKHQWLFDOO\ E\ OLYLQJ WKHP RXW LQ RXU GDLO\ OLYHV Communion: We live, love and VHUYH LQ FRPPXQLRQ ZLWK *RG DQG ZLWK HDFK RWKHU ZLWKLQ WKH &KXUFK (priests, Religious and laity) so DV WR EULQJ DOO SHRSOHV WR FRPPXQ-

Above: Parish representatives sharing the ‘strengths’ and ‘weaknesses’ of their parishes on Aug 22. Below: Representatives of Church organisations in a sharing session.

LRQ ZLWK *RG DQG ZLWK HDFK RWKHU Witness: We share our faith in every sphere of life through our SURFODPDWLRQ RI WKH *RRG 1HZV DQG WKH ZLWQHVV RI RXU OLIH DFFRUGLQJ WR RXU FKDULVP DQG GLVFHUQHG YRFDWLRQ DQG XVLQJ DSSURDFKHV methods and expressions relevant WR WRGD\œV VRFLHW\ VSHFLDOO\ UHDFKLQJ RXW LQ ORYH DQG VHUYLFH WR WKH poor, marginalised and disadvanWDJHG LQ VRFLHW\ „

LQWHUDFWLRQ IRU EHWWHU HYDQJHOLVDWLRQ 6KH FRPSDUHG PLQLVWULHV WR ³IDPLO\ PHPEHUV´ LQ D SDULVK ³,I I do not get to know them, there’s QR ZD\ WR KDYH D JRRG ERQGLQJ ´ VKH VDLG 0V 0DU\ -HDQ %DXWLVWD IURP WKH &KXUFK RI WKH +RO\ 7ULQLW\ VDLG VXFK D VHVVLRQ DOORZHG SHRSOH WR ³KHDU PRUH´ DERXW WKH GLUHFWLRQ RI WKH DUFKGLRFHVH DQG WR ³DOLJQ DFFRUGLQJO\´ However, she felt that the ZRUNVKRS FRXOG KDYH DOORZHG IRU PRUH LQWHUDFWLRQ EHWZHHQ GLIIHUHQW SDULVKHV HVSHFLDOO\ WKRVH ZLWK

VLPLODU FKDUDFWHULVWLFV VR WKDW WKH\ FRXOG ³OHDUQ IURP RQH DQRWKHU´ Another session was held in the afternoon for Religious, DUFKGLRFHVDQ RUJDQLVDWLRQV DQG JURXSV ZKLFK VDZ DERXW SHRSOH SDUWLFLSDWLQJ 0VJU 3KLOLS +HQJ GHOLYHUHG WKH DUFKELVKRSœV PHVVDJH WR WKH FURZG ZKR ZHUH ODWHU GLYLGHG LQWR JURXSV WR GLVFXVV KRZ WKH\ FRXOG FRQWULEXWH LQ FRPPXQLRQ WR VXSSRUW WKH DUFKGLRFHVH Various ideas of how groups FRXOG FROODERUDWH ZLWK RQH DQRWKHU ZHUH VKDUHG GXULQJ WKH SOHQDU\ „

Do you have a burning question on the faith?

Do you have a burning question on the faith or on practices of the faith? CatholicNews is starting a column for you to have your questions answered by authorities on various topics. Just email your question

to cnedit@catholic.org.sg, and include your full name, address and contact number.

All decisions on submissions rest with those answering the questions. Published submissions will be edited. „

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Sunday September 6, 2015 CatholicNews

Using apps, arts for religious education

By Stefania Hartley Digital apps, drama, music and the visual arts can all be used to make religious education lessons more engaging.

This was what some 90 Catholic educators learnt during a workshop for Catholic educators held on Aug 15 at Catholic Junior College.

The event, which is part of the Religious Education Access Programme (REAP), was organised by the Archdiocesan Commission for Catholic Schools (ACCS) in partnership with the Brisbane Catholic Education Of¿FH %&(2

A team of six senior educaWLRQ RI¿FHUV ÀHZ LQ IURP WKH Australian city to deliver the programme, now in its third year in Singapore.

During the event, participants were divided into groups to participate in four workshops.

In the Prayer Strategies workshop, the trainer showed how apps, such as those for relaxation and meditation, can help children move from the psychological space of play or study to that of prayer.

Participants also learnt how drama techniques such as “freeze frames” and “echo mimes” can be used in the teaching of scripture.

In the Music workshop, par-

From left: Catholic educators learn about using apps, art and song in religious education during a recent workshop.

ticipants explored the opportuQLWLHV IRU UHOLJLRXV UHÀHFWLRQ RIfered by pop songs, among other activities, while in the Visual Arts workshop, they decorated a wooden cross with symbols of their individual as well as schools’ faith journeys, learning how art can also be a form of prayer.

In the Teaching Scriptures workshop, participants explored images of God in scripture, in society and in their own lives. They DOVR OHDUQW WKH LPSRUWDQFH RI ¿QGing out about students’ images of God and where each of them is at in their faith journeys.

Commenting on the programme, Mr Andy Choong, viceprincipal of St Anthony’s Primary

School, said: “In the busy hustle and bustle of school life, it is important to encourage our pupils to be still and calm, to prepare their mind and body for prayer. The simple use of bells and chimes to create an ambience of stillness works well to remind pupils to quieten themselves and/or be UHDG\ IRU SUD\HU DQG UHÀHFWLRQ ´ Ms Geraldine Robert, re-

ligious education coordinator from Marymount Convent, said it was “great to know the different prayer strategies that we could use by tapping on technology”.

The REAP programme came at the end of a BECO-ACCS partnership project, the Literacy Education Access Programme (LEAP) held from Aug 12-14.

This was an attachment pro-

It is the ... mutual commitment to ‘ providing children with the opportunity to have a meaningful learning experience, that has sustained this collaboration.

’

– Ms Merilyn Dasson from ACCS on the partnership ZLWK WKH %ULVEDQH &DWKROLF (GXFDWLRQ 2I¿FH

gramme in which 10 literacy teachers from the Brisbane archdiocese were hosted by four local Catholic primary schools and six kindergartens.

The Australian teachers observed the English lessons in kindergarten and Pri 1 and Pri 2 classes, and participated in sharing sessions with the teachers, principals and vice-principals of the host schools.

The partnership between ACCS and BCEO started in 2011 with the purpose of sharing best practices in the teaching of religious education in Catholic preschools. It has subsequently grown to include primary and secondary Catholic educators.

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Sunday September 6, 2015 CatholicNews

Nativity parish marks SG50 50,000 rosaries offered up by parishoners to pray for Singapore

By Jerry Sim In celebration of Singapore’s 50th birthday, the parish of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary set out to offer a spiritual bouquet of 50,000 rosaries for the nation, prayers for its leaders, families, the poor, racial and religious harmony and social responsibility.

This was the brainchild of parish priest Fr Henry Siew and the Parish Pastoral Council.

The target of praying 50,000 rosaries was set with a target completion time of three months, by Aug 9. The project was led by a small team of young adults. Pledge cards were distributed to parishioners, each representing 10 rosaries. After they prayed the rosa-

Praying for our ‘ nation made me realise Nativity parish’s rosary pledge cards seen in this basket.

our responsibility to continue praying for Singapore and not to take what we have for granted.

’

– Ms Kareen Chua, member of the organising team

ries, the cards were signed, placed in collection boxes and counted weekly.

There were doubts initially if the target could be met. But as the weeks passed, the pledge cards were returned by the hundreds, providing encouragement for the organisers.

With the support of the entire parish – as well as Catholics from outside the parish – the target was achieved a week before National Day. The project united parishioners, many of whom made special

plans to organise prayer sessions within their families, ministries and neighbourhood communities. “[Praying] together with my Neighborhood Christian Community members provided a sense of Christian unity and gratefulness to God,” shared Ms Monica Loh, 50.

A member of the organising team, Ms Kareen Chua, 25, reÀHFWHG RQ KHU H[SHULHQFH ³3UD\ing for our nation made me realise our responsibility to continue praying for Singapore and not to take what we have for granted,” she said.

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Sunday September 6, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Discerning one’s vocation, listening to God’s call

By Br Shaun Lim

Caritas Myanmar staff evacuating villagers from Thabaung Township, Pathein. Photo: KARUNA MISSION SOCIAL SOLIDARITY

CHARIS doing its part to help Myanmar, further aid needed Caritas Humanitarian Aid & Relief Initiatives Singapore (CHARIS), the overseas humanitarian arm of the Church in Singapore, has pledged an initial $100,000 in grant aid and disaster relief supplies for those affected by monVRRQ ÀRRGV LQ 0\DQPDU Working through its partners, &DULWDV 0\DQPDU DQG RWKHU &DWKolic relief agencies on the ground, CHARIS is disbursing $30,000 in cash and shipping $20,000 worth RI ZDWHU SXUL¿FDWLRQ ERWWOHV WR DLG JURXQG UHOLHI HIIRUWV &+$5,6 says another $50,000 will be used GXULQJ WKH UHFRYHU\ SKDVH It added that it will continue to PRQLWRU WKH VLWXDWLRQ Cyclone Komen ploughed WKURXJK WKH ZHVWHUQ SDUWV RI 0\DQPDU RQ -XO\

0DQ\ KDYH ORVW WKHLU OLYHV DQG the death toll continues to rise in the wake of one of the worst ÀRRGV LQ WKH FRXQWU\œV KLVWRU\ .DUXQD 0LVVLRQ 6RFLDO 6ROLGDULW\ .066 DOVR NQRZQ DV &DULWDV 0\DQPDU KDV ODXQFKHG an emergency appeal through &DULWDVœ LQWHUQDWLRQDO QHWZRUN UHquesting for resources to support their outreach to remote areas in six dioceses to provide basic neFHVVLWLHV WR SHRSOH LQ YLOODJHV For a more detailed report on the disaster, visit www.charis-singapore.org.

To donate towards these relief efforts and other humanitarian situations, please call 63374119 or email info@charis-singapore.org for further information. „

0RUH WKDQ \RXQJ PHQ Âą VWXdents, NSmen and young working DGXOWV Âą VSHQW WKH 1DWLRQDO 'D\ weekend discerning their vocation LQ OLIH SDUWLFXODUO\ WKH SULHVWKRRG Apart from contemplating their relationship with God, they also took stock of how far Singapore has come as a nation during WKH 'LRFHVDQ 9RFDWLRQ 'LVFHUQment Retreat, held at the St FranFLV ;DYLHU 0DMRU 6HPLQDU\ IURP $XJ The retreat had the theme, A Life or Alive?

To assist the retreatants, Fr Benedict Chng, Fr John Bosco Pereira, Fr Jovita Ho, archdiocesan vocation director Fr Alex &KXD DQG )U 9DOHULDQ &KHRQJ from the seminary shared their experiences as priests as well as WKH MR\ RI WKH SULHVWKRRG The retreatants also took part in a paraliturgy in which they had to “nailâ€? their sins, written on pieces of paper, onto a wooden cross GXULQJ 6DWXUGD\ QLJKWÂśV +RO\ +RXU They were then invited to receive the Sacrament of ReconciliDWLRQ The seminarians were also on hand to pray for those who needed VSLULWXDO VXSSRUW

Retreatants listening to Fr John Bosco Pereira at the vocation discernment retreat.

0DQ\ UHWUHDWDQWV VDLG WKH\ found the Holy Hour, the paraliturgy and the Sacrament of ReconFLOLDWLRQ D PRYLQJ H[SHULHQFH

Retreat highlights included vocation videos in which both local priests and priests from all over the world shared how their love for Christ and for the people helped to sustain their priesthood.

Other highlights of the retreat included vocation videos in which local priests and priests from all over the world shared how their love for Christ and for the people helped to sustain their priesthood, which besides being a road less travelled, ZRXOG DOVR QRW EH DQ HDV\ RQH 7KH UHWUHDWœV FOLPD[ ZDV WKH 0DVV RQ 6XQGD\ FHOHEUDWHG E\ $UFKELVKRS :LOOLDP *RK In his homily, he emphasised WKH LPSRUWDQFH KDYLQJ MR\ DV D priest and being able to emanate MR\ WR RWKHUV „ Br Shaun Lim is a seminarian.

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Sunday September 6, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Mission group helps Cambodian get treated for heart condition A Cambodian teenager has had her congenital heart condition treated, thanks to a Catholic mission team from Singapore.

Mary, 18, was born with a persistent hole in her heart which caused her breathlessness and heart palpitations. The tips of her ÂżQJHUV DQG WRHV ZHUH DOVR VZROOHQ (“clubbedâ€?) due to this condition.

In 2013, the Salesian Sisters at Don Bosco Girls’ School in Battambang highlighted her plight to Mission Srolanh (srolanh means ³ORYH´ LQ .KPHU D QRQ SUR¿W project organised by Catholic medical students from the National University of Singapore together with doctors from the Catholic Medical Guild.

Part of their work includes an annual mission trip to conduct health screenings and education and community involvement projects to rural villages in Cambodia’s Battambang province.

Mary was initially scheduled for surgery in Phnom Penh at an estimated cost of US$5,000 (S$7,000), a sum that the nuns IRXQG GLI¿FXOW WR UDLVH The mission team then decided to fundraise among present and exmission team members for Mary WR À\ WR 6LQJDSRUH IRU WUHDWPHQW According to members of Mission Srolanh, Mary was initially reluctant but later agreed to come to Singapore, and was accompanied by her mother, Marly, and their parish priest, Fr Manoj.

From July 7-14, Mary and her mother were hosted by a Catholic family, while Fr Manoj stayed at the Jesuit residence at the Church of St Ignatius.

Mission Srolanh members worked with a local hospital for Mary’s medical treatment and funding, and her surgery went smoothly and successfully.

Ms Christine Yuan, a Catholic medical student who hosted Mary and her mother, told CatholicNews that although the language barrier made offering simple things such as coffee a challenge, love could always be expressed, “regardless of what language the person speaks�, through gestures.

Mary’s condition resulted in the swelling of KHU ¿QJHU tips.

Local artist’s reproduction of Sassoferrato’s Madonna in Prayer.

Auction in aid of CTIS

During her recovery, Mary would also often smile and say “sister/brother, happy� in the little English she knew.

Towards the end of the visitors’ stay in Singapore, Fr Manoj celebrated a thanksgiving Mass with the Singapore medical students and doctors who helped support Mary over the past two years.

She has since returned to Cambodia and graduated from Don Bosco Girls’ School in dressmaking.

Mary and her parents are preparing to be baptised next Easter.

For more information on Mission Srolanh, visit www.facebook. com/missionsrolanh „

Mary (far right) seen here with her mother, Marly, and parish priest Fr Manoj at Changi Airport before returning to Cambodia.

A local artist’s reproduction of a 17th-century painting of Mary is being auctioned in aid of the Catholic Theological Institute of Singapore (CTIS).

The gold-framed canvas acrylic painting, measuring approximately 4 feet by 3 feet (1.2 m by 0.9 m), is a reproduction of Sassoferrato’s Madonna in Prayer, which dates around 1640. The original painting is currently displayed at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia.

The local artist who made the reproduction is a convert to Catholicism and has a special devotion to Our Lady. The artist pre-

fers to remain anonymous.

CTIS says the painting will be auctioned off to the highest bidder, starting with an opening bid of $25,000.

Bidding will close on Sept 20 at 6 pm.

Those interested may contact Teresa Hoe to offer their bid at teresahoe@ctis.sg, tel: 6434-8003.

CTIS also welcomes donations to assist in its mission of forming the laity in the faith.

Cheques can be made payable to CTIS Development Fund and sent to CTIS, 55, Waterloo Street, #05-04 Catholic Centre, Singapore 187954. „

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Sunday September 6, 2015 CatholicNews

Catholics learn about Hinduism

By Jared Ng Catholics who visited a Hindu temple as part of an interreligious dialogue activity said that the visit gave them a very comprehensive understanding of Hinduism.

“The experience was very educational... it has cleared many of the confusions and assumptions that I have of Hinduism,” said Ms Marlinda Grace Darmali, 42, a parishioner of the Church of St Teresa.

She was one of 15 participants who visited the Sri Vairavimada Kaliamman Temple at Toa Payoh on Aug 22.

The visit was organised by the Archdiocesan Catholic Council for Interreligious Dialogue (ACCIRD) for Catholics to learn more about other religions in Singapore.

Mr Satish s/o Appoo, chairperson of the temple, explained various topics such as Hinduism’s origins, forms of worship, and its inter-faith perspectives.

The presentation took place in a conference room in the temple.

Mr Satish said a person can ¿QG *RG LI KH RU VKH IROORZV DQ\ of the faiths with sincere devotion. He added that all religions work for the good of humankind.

Spiritual practices of the Hindu faith include yoga and its various forms, which in most cases are

Above: Mr Satish s/o Appoo, chairperson of the Sri Vairavimada Kaliamman temple (extreme left) explaining Hinduism to Catholics.

Right: A participant with his son in the hall of the temple.

conducted by a spiritual teacher also known as a guru, he explained.

At the end of the presentation, the Catholic participants asked some questions.

One asked if there was a leader or someone similar to the pope, for Hindus.

Mr Satish replied that though there are many temples in India that Hindus worship in, “there is no one head”.

Another question posed by a

experience was very educational... ‘it The has cleared many of the confusions and assumptions that I have of Hinduism. ’

– Ms Marlinda Grace Darmali, a participant

participant was, “Do priests in the temple follow celibacy?” and to the surprise of a few participants, Mr Satish replied, “No, most priests need to be actually married to do certain things in the temple.”

Mr Keith Neubronner, 26, a parishioner from the Church of St Ignatius, who had previously visited a Sikh temple and Jewish synagogue under the ACCIRD, said that the Hindu temple visit

“was by far the most in depth”.

“I was impressed by the chairperson’s knowledge, and this idea of not requiring one way of salvation or conversion to be saved was quite unusual and it’s something I’ll remember,” he added.

The ACCIRD Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/archCCIDsingapore. jared.ng@catholic.org.sg

ASIA 9

Sunday September 6, 2015 CatholicNews

&DULWDV JUDSSOHV ZLWK ÁRRG UHOLHI DELHI – As India grapples with

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Fr Johnson Fernandez (left) and Msgr Ambrose Vaz blessing the hands of nurses and healthcare professionals during the Nurses’ Day Mass at Divine Mercy Church.

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The nurses pledged to perform their duties in accordance with Christian values, and to have an enlightened conscience about the ethical problems posed by medical and social developments.

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Sunday September 6, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Milestone set as Timor-Leste and Vatican sign bilateral agreement He said it was special because TIMOR LESTE – On Aug 14, The Holy See and Timor-Leste signed it was not signed at the Vatican a concordat that set another mile- but in Timor-Leste itself, which stone in bilateral cooperation be- shows the Church’s love for the country. tween both countries.

Timor-Leste, he said, recogVatican’s Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who ar- QLVHV WKH VLJQLÂżFDQW FRQWULEXWLRQ rived in Dili on Aug 12 to cel- the Catholic Church has made to ebrate 500 years of the Catholic its people. “The people of Timor-Leste Church in Timor, said the agreement aimed to boost “mutual col- have known that the Catholic Church has played laboration for the ,W SURWHFWV SHRSOH D VLJQLÂżFDQW UROH LQ integral development of the people WR H[HUFLVH WKHLU the past 500 years, much more during in justice, peace and UHOLJLRXV IUHHGRP our struggles for inthe common good.â€?

VXFK DV WKH ULJKW dependence.

According to the “The Catholic cardinal, the conRI ZRUVKLS DQG Church has helped cordat rests on two WR IUHHO\ SHUIRUP in moral and refundamental prin&KXUFK DFWLYLWLHV ligious education ciples — the values of the people and and principles of in,W ZLOO EH YHU\ them with ternational law in the LPSRUWDQW IRU WKH provided spiritual and matematter of religious &DWKROLF &KXUFK rial assistance durfreedom, and the ing the liberation guarantee of the freeLQ WKH IXWXUH process,â€? Mr Araudom to profess and – Fr Julio Crispim jo said. practise the Catholic Ximenes Belo, lecturer on Meanwhile, Fr faith publicly. law at National University Julio Crispim Xi“It also offers of Timor Lorosae menes Belo, lecturspace and opportunities for the Catholic Church to act er on law at the National Universiin society, in accord with its mis- ty of Timor Lorosae and director of sion of service to the people and in the justice and peace commission line with constitutional norms and of Baucau diocese, said that the concordat provides a legal framelocal legislation,â€? he said. Âł7KH DJUHHPHQW GHÂżQHV VSH- work for cooperation between the FLÂżF DUHDV ZKHUH WKH &KXUFK FDQ Church and Timor-Leste. “It protects people to exercise serve the people freely and opentheir religious freedom, such as lyâ€?, Cardinal Parolin said.

These include providing spir- the right of worship and to freely itual assistance in prisons, hos- perform Church activities. It will pitals, clinics and orphanages, be very important for the Cathoperforming works of charity, es- lic Church in the future,� Fr Belo tablishing schools at every level said.

It also strengthens the Church’s and assisting Catholic parents in the education of their children in status as a legal entity in TimorLeste, he added. „ UCANEWS.COM their own faith. “From the very beginning the Catholic Church has been radically rooted in the history of the Timorese people who embraced the Catholic Church, not by the force of the sword, but by the openness of their heart,� Cardinal Parolin said.

Timor-Leste Prime Minister Rui Maria de Araujo said the concordat sets another milestone in the “special relationship� between the Vatican and Timor-Leste.

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Catholic women carrying wooden crosses during a procession in Dili, Timor Leste, April 17, 2011.

The bilateral agreement will give Catholics religious freedom to practise their faith. &16 ÂżOH SKRWR

Cardinal urges Asian Churches to counter climate crisis

Cardinal Charles Bo of Yangon has called for practical solutions to the climate crisis. &16 ¿OH SKRWRV BANGKOK – Cardinal Charles

Maung Bo of Yangon, Myanmar, has urged Asian Churches to take the lead in combating climate change, warning in a homily delivered on Aug 18 that “evil is marching with glee, destroying human families, destroying God’s gift of nature.�

Celebrating Mass in Bangkok ahead of a two-day regional climate change seminar organised by the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), Cardinal Bo called on the gathered Catholic Church leaders to develop “practical solutions�. “We need to join hands with like-minded forces in the struggle toward the protection of nature,� he said, citing Pope Francis’s recent encyclical Laudato si’. “[The] Holy Father’s message

Cyclone Nargis bearing down on trees and houses in Myanmar in 2008.

is a wake-up call to the Church,� he said.

In June, the pope issued an unprecedented encyclical on the environment arguing for a global response to climate change and wealthy nations to take responsibility for the devastation wrought on the poorest.

Cardinal Bo, who in February EHFDPH 0\DQPDUÂśV ÂżUVW FDUGLQDO spoke in his homily of the horrors his country had faced in recent years from natural disasters.

Cyclone Nargis, he noted, killed more than 150,000 people in 2008 and left 800,000 homeless. “Our poor did not even know the words, global warming, but they have been the victims of climate change for the last 10 years,�

said Cardinal Bo, who serves as FKDLUPDQ RI WKH RIÂżFH RI KXPDQ development for the FABC. “We stand at the crossroads of history. What were sporadic attacks on our ecosystem has now turned into chronic illness for our planet. So our gathering here needs to impress upon all of us the urgency of purpose.â€?

Speaking at the conference opening, Bishop Philip Banchong Chaiyara of Ubon Ratchathani, president of Caritas Thailand, praised Cardinal Bo’s message and asked participants to “develop a strategy to care for our respective homes�. “We all have a role to play in this ecological revolution to which Pope Francis has invited us,� he said. „ UCANEWS.COM

Excommunicated Chinese bishops ordain priests in separate ceremonies HONG KONG – Two excommuni-

cated bishops in China have ordained priests in separate ceremonies over the recent months.

Catholic leaders expressed concern over the ordinations, saying it was yet another example of the communist government tightening its control over the Church.

Fr Joseph Yue Fusheng of Heilongjiang, who was excommunicated by the Vatican in 2012 after he was illicitly ordained a bishop, ordained three priests during an Aug 6 Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Harbin.

On June 29, Fr Lei Shiyin, excommunicated by the Vatican in 2011 after he was also illicitly ordained a bishop, ordained a new priest and presided over the vows for two nuns during a ceremony in the newly built Sacred Heart Cathedral in Leshan.

Fr Lei was joined by 18 concelebrants and more than 1,000 CathoOLFV LQFOXGLQJ JRYHUQPHQW RIÂżFLDOV “I have no intention to challenge the authority of the Holy See. I would not engage in any argu-

Fr Paul Lei was ordained a bishop illicitly. 8&$11(:6 &20 ÂżOH SKRWR

ment. But the China Church has to pursue inculturation,� Fr Lei said. “If we mind every word that people say, it would hinder the development of our diocese,� he added.

This was the second ordination Mass presided at by Fr Lei since being excommunicated.

He ordained four new priests RQ -XQH WKH ÂżUVW DQQL

versary of his illicit ordination.

Bishop Joseph Wei Jingyi of Qiqihar, the only Vatican-approved bishop in the Heilongjiang province, said that “whoever consecrates or is being consecrated, their status is grave.� “Yue Fusheng is an illicit bishop that the Holy See openly declared excommunicated. Whoever agreed to be ordained by him has ignored Yue’s illegitimacy and openly disobeys the Holy See,� the bishop said.

The issue of independent ordinations has been a principal obstacle to peaceful relations between Beijing and the Vatican, which demands the right to name its own bishops.

On Aug 4, the new coadjutor bishop of Anyang Diocese was ordained with Vatican approval, beFRPLQJ WKH ÂżUVW SXEOLFO\ FRQVHFUDWed Chinese bishop in three years.

The 2015 working plan by China’s State Administration for Religious Affairs said it would proceed with the election and ordination of bishops without Vatican approval. „ CNS

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Sunday September 6, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Tianjin Catholics among initial responders to those injured HONG KONG – Pope Francis has expressed his condolences to the victims of the tragic explosion that occurred in Tianjin, located in northern China.

Following his Angelus address on the Feast of the Assumption on Aug 15, the Holy Father conveyed his thoughts and prayers to the victims of the tragic explosion. “I assure my prayers for those who have lost their lives and for all those who are suffering from this disaster,� he said. “May the Lord give them comfort and support to all those engaged in relieving their suffering.�

2Q $XJ D ÂżUH EHJDQ DW a Ruihai Logistics warehouse, which contained various hazardRXV FKHPLFDOV )LUHÂżJKWHUV ZKR were unaware of the dangerous reaction of water to the toxic chemicals, inadvertently caused a chain reaction of massive explosions.

The death toll of the explosions has reached 112, with 95 people still missing, and hundreds more injured.

The morning after the industrial EODVW LQ 7LDQMLQ WKH 7LDQMLQ 'LRFHVDQ Social Service Centre helped line up 60 volunteers to assist the government’s rescue and relief work.

The volunteers donated drinking water, clothes and other supplies to hospitals and temporary

Broken glass was ‘ everywhere on the road that led to the blast scene.

It was like watching a disaster movie.

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– Mr Ignatius Song, a church volunteer

An aerial view of a crater in the ground in the aftermath of an explosion that rocked the port city of Tianjin, China.

settlements for evacuees.

9ROXQWHHUV ZHUH EULHIHG RQ FKHPLFDO FRQWDPLQDWLRQ EHIRUH heading to the disaster area, where RIÂżFLDOV GLYLGHG WKHP LQWR JURXSV and dispatched them to various relief camps and hospitals.

Mr Ignatius Song, a church YROXQWHHU ZDV VWDWLRQHG DERXW KDOI D NLORPHWHU IURP WKH EODVW VLWH +H GHVFULEHG D FKDRWLF VFHQH with emergency vehicles and amEXODQFHV GHOLYHULQJ WKH LQMXUHG WR KRVSLWDOV ZKLOH EULQJLQJ LQ PXFK

needed supplies. “Broken glass was everywhere on the road that OHG WR WKH EODVW VFHQH 7KHUH ZHUH FROODSVHG EXLOGLQJV “It was like watching a disaster movie,� said Mr Song, who helped evacuate residents. “There

was a long queue outside the moELOH EORRG GRQDWLRQ FHQWUH 0DQ\ private cars and taxis offered free transportation.� $ QXPEHU RI KRWHOV DOVR SURvided free accommodation and meals.

Another church volunteer, Mr Joseph Hua, said “When our team entered the hospital, it suddenly came to mind that what we were facing was a real disaster.�

After the explosion, Tianjin Catholics took to social media to plead with others not to visit the scene out of curiosity.

A priest who works with Coadjutor Bishop Melchior Shi Hong]KHQ D 9DWLFDQ DSSURYHG ELVKRS whom the government recognises only as a priest, said that in the hours IROORZLQJ WKH EODVW WKH\ FHOHEUDWHG Mass and prayed for “the dead, the injured and their families.� “This is the only thing that we can do,� the priest said. „ CNS, ZENIT

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ASIA

Sunday September 6, 2015 CatholicNews

Pope offers prayers and condolences for victims of Bangkok blast

Women Religious pray in front of the site where a bomb exploded on Aug 17 at the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok, Thailand. CNS Photo BANGKOK – Pope Francis has ex-

pressed “heartfelt solidarity” with Thailand’s king and all affected following a terrorist attack on the Erawan Hindu Shrine in Bangkok, which claimed 20 lives on the evening of Aug 17.

In a telegram sent on his behalf by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, to the King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej, the Holy Father said he “was deeply saddened to learn of the injury and loss of life caused by the attack at the Erawan Hindu Shrine and of the threat to life and

property caused by the bombing at the Sathorn Pier.” He conveyed his “heartfelt solidarity with Your Majesty and all those affected by these acts of violence.”

“Mindful of the security and emergency personnel who are seeking the perpetrators of these crimes, while also assisting the injured, their families and those of the deceased, His Holiness offers the assurance of his prayers and invokes the divine blessings of peace and healing upon the Kingdom,” the message stated.

The Erawan Shrine is consid-

ered to be the most famous among Bangkok’s many Hindu shrines.

Not only do tourists gravitate there, but Buddhists, Hindus and Sikhs often offer incense and ÀRZHUV WKHUH DV ZHOO Built in 1956, the shrine houses a golden statue of Phra Phrom (from Sanskrit: Vara Brahma), who is the Thai representation of the Brahma, the Hindu god of creation.

The timing of the bomb was likely strategic as 7 pm is around the time when many go to the shrine as they head home from work. ZENIT

Vietnam closer to passing controversial bill VIETNAM – Vietnam is moving closer to passing a restrictive law on religion, Christian groups have warned.

The country’s most powerful political organ, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, discussed the bill on Aug 14 with few signs major amendments would be made before passing next year, said the religious freedom advocacy group Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

“We know from our research that many religious leaders and community representatives have serious concerns about the draft, which could, in its current form, lead to further interference into religious life in Vietnam,” said Mr Andy Dipper, the group’s chief RSHUDWLQJ RI¿FHU Lawmakers consulted with religious groups on the law, although there have been few subsequent changes to its wording so far.

Critics of the draft warn it would require all group religious activity to be registered with authorities or face being outlawed, a system similar to China.

Vietnam has no current law managing faith groups, instead relying on a religious ordinance passed in 2004, followed by decrees in 2005 and 2013.

The draft law – if passed – would be considered “a step backward”, said Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, the Vatican’s non-resident representative to Vietnam. ³7KH SRQWL¿FDO UHSUHVHQWDWLRQ LV

Critics of the draft warn it would require all group religious activity to be registered with authorities or face being outlawed.

monitoring the ongoing legislation about religion and belief,” Archbishop Girelli told ucanews.com.

“The local Church hopes to be more involved in the consultation in view of the new law being passed.”

In a strongly worded letter to Hanoi in May, Vietnamese bishops said the draft shows the communist regime “completely imposes its power on religious organisations and creates loopholes for executive bodies to carry out abuse of power”.

Observers warn the law repUHVHQWV WKH ¿UVW PDMRU VHWEDFN IRU religious freedom since Vietnam re-established ties with the Vatican, leading to Archbishop Girelli’s appointment in 2011.

The UN’s special envoy for freedom of religion, Mr Heiner Bielefeldt, made a landmark visit to the country in July last year in a sign of progress for religious freedom. UCANEWS.COM

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Sunday September 6, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Aquino courts El Shaddai for votes MANILA – Philippine President Benigno Aquino openly solicited the support of the country’s biggest Catholic Charismatic movement to support his administration and his candidates in next year’s presidential elections. “Next year, we will again be at the crossroads. I hope we become guides of our fellow men in choosing the right leader,� he told a gathering of thousands of El Shaddai Charismatic Renewal Movement members on Aug 23. “I am hopeful that we will not veer away from the good things we have started in order to achieve our goals,� the president said at the overnight celebration of the movement’s 31st anniversary and the 76th birthday of its founder, Mr Mariano Velarde, also known as Brother Mike.

Mr Velarde, a televangelist who is known for having held considerable sway over politicians and election outcomes for nearly three decades, established the El Shaddai in 1984.

The group, which has since become the largest of the new generation Christian movements in the country, claims a following of 3 to 8 million Filipinos, although independent estimates put it at a much ORZHU ÂżJXUH RI PLOOLRQ El Shaddai is one of the many Catholic Carismatic movements

Philippine president Benigno Aquino has looked for the support of the country’s biggest Catholic Charismatic movement, El Shaddai. &16 SKRWR

Mr Mariano Verlarde, founder of El Shaddai, has previously supported pro-Church candidates.

that emerged in the 1980s, offering spiritual renewal seminars, which have evolved under different names.

In documents released by WikiLeaks in 2010, the US embassy in Manila considered El Shaddai and the Iglesia ni Cristo,

Politicians who run for election usually ÀRFN WR WKH (O 6KDGGDLœV ZHHNO\ JDWKHULQJV GXULQJ WKH FDPSDLJQ season to woo the JURXS ZKLFK LV ZLGHO\ SHUFHLYHG WR YRWH DV D EORF GXULQJ HOHFWLRQV

an international Christian denomination that originated in the Philippines, to be two of the most SROLWLFDOO\ LQĂ€XHQWLDO JURXSV LQ the Philippines, with a combined voting power of “2 to 3 million.â€?

Mr Velarde has always maintained that there is a “Catholic vote� in the majority Catholic Philippines.

During the 2013 midterm elections, Mr Velarde’s El Shaddai and dozens of other smaller Catholic lay organisations banded together to form the “White Vote movement� to campaign for “proChurch candidates.� “We endorse, we don’t impose. We just encourage [members] to go along with us, what is best for all of us,� Mr Velarde said in a 2013 interview. “It’s time to let the public

know that there’s such a [Catholic] vote,� he said.

Politicians who run for election XVXDOO\ ÀRFN WR WKH (O 6KDGGDLœV weekly gatherings during the campaign season to woo the group, which is widely perceived to vote as a bloc during elections.

Mr Aquino, in his Aug 23 speech, lauded the El Shaddai founder for being “the source of strength and inspiration for millions of our countrymen.�

The president called on El Shaddai followers “to stand for what is right and just.â€? “If we are always prepared WR ÂżJKW FRUUXSWLRQ DQG LI ZH give priority to the commonweal rather than our own interests, the seeds we have sown will grow DQG Ă€RXULVK ´ 0U $TXLQR VDLG „ 8&$1(:6 &20

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Sunday September 6, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Colombian guerrillas Anti-suicide ruling lauded hope to meet pope WKH FRQÀLFW ZKLFK KDV FODLPHG VRPH VATICAN CITY – Representatives of Colombia’s largest guerrilla movement 220,000 lives.

After a meeting on Aug 17 in Hahave asked to meet Pope Francis in Cuba in September and have requested vana, the capital city of Cuba, with the the Catholic Church name a permanent president of the Colombian bishops’ delegate to their peace negotiations with conference, Marquez tweeted: “We are optimistic. We are prothe government. moting bilateral ceaseIvan Marquez, repÂżUH DQG ULJKWHRXVQHVV resenting the Revolu[The] Church has retionary Armed Forces of newed its commitment Colombia, known by the to peace in Colombia.â€?

Spanish acronym FARC, Archbishop Luis at the peace talks, said Castro Quiroga of Tunon Aug 17, “We want to ja, president of the Cogive a heartfelt greeting lombian bishops’ conto Pope Francis. We hope ference, said after his to have this opportunity.â€? meeting with the FARC Pope Francis is GHOHJDWHV WKDW D ÂżQDO GHscheduled to visit Cuba cision on a papal meetfrom Sept 19-22.

The guerrillas, who Archbishop Luis Castro Qui- ing in Cuba was up to have been in conflict roga of Tunja said that the the pope, the Vatican with the Colombian decision on a papal meeting and the pope’s Cuban government for five in Cuba was up to the pope, hosts.

Pope Francis, he decades, “want to move the Vatican and the pope’s said, has been following the peace process for- Cuban hosts. &16 ÂżOH SKRWR news of the peace talks, ward, particularly with the support of the Catholic world,â€? but would probably be interested in talkMarquez said. “The Church can offer ing directly to those involved.

The pope has said he would like all its experience to help reach a final to help promote peace, the archbishop agreement.�

FARC and the Colombian govern- said. The idea of the pope naming a delment began the peace talks in Cuba in egate to the talks could be one way to ODWH KRSLQJ WR ¿QG D ZD\ WR HQG do that. „ CNS

SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO, USA – The emy while in fact suffering often accomCatholic bishops of New Mexico in a joint panies genuine growth and new opportunistatement welcomed a ruling by the state’s ties,â€? they said. “The answer to suffering is Court of Appeals that reversed a lower not death but rather the grateful acceptance court’s approval of physician-assisted sui- of life while at the same time managing cide. pain through proper medications and the “The Catholic Church strongly believes support of loved ones.â€? that life is a gift from a loving God, which The statement was signed by Archbishextends from conception to natural death,â€? op John C Wester of Santa Fe and Bishops they said. “Only God can give or take life James S Wall of Gallup and Oscar Cantu of and the state does not have the competency Las Cruces. to shorten this precious gift, even for seemThe plaintiffs in the original case, Morris ingly laudable purposes.â€? vs King, were two physicians from the UniTwo years ago, ruling in the case of a YHUVLW\ RI 1HZ 0H[LFR +RVSLWDO ZKR ÂżOHG D woman who had been diagsuit on behalf of patient Aja nosed with life-threatening Riggs.

The answer to uterine cancer, the Bernalillo Lawyers for Ms Riggs County District Court said and the doctors said they suffering is not that aid in dying “is a fundawould appeal to the US Sudeath but rather mental liberty interest.� preme Court.

On Aug 11, the state apThe plaintiffs challenged the grateful peals court said the opposite, the constitutionality of a acceptance of life. that assisting someone to die 1963 state law that makes it – Bishops of is “not a fundamental liberty a fourth-degree felony to asNew Mexico, USA interest under the New Mexisist in someone’s suicide. co Constitution.�

The Catholic Church The bishops, in their Aug 13 statement, “sees the process of dying as a communal said that “while each stage of life is sacred, event in which loved ones and the faith WKH HQG RI OLIH LV ÂżOOHG ZLWK VSHFLDO PHDQLQJ FRPPXQLW\ DOVR ÂżQG QHZ OLIH UHFRQFLOLDand opportunities.â€? tion, hope and strength as they accompany “Our Church, given its long history of WKH G\LQJ SHUVRQ LQ KLV RU KHU ÂżQDO GD\V ´ operating and sponsoring hospitals, minis- the New Mexico bishops said. tering to those in pain and providing spirThose who advocate for assisted suicide itual services to the dying,â€? they said, “is argue it is compassionate to help those facin a unique position to shed light on our ing a terminal illness to kill themselves. country’s debate on assisted suicide and to “Cutting that journey short is not comoffer insights that point to the dignity and passionate,â€? the bishops said. “Rather, it is sacredness of the dying process.â€? allowing suffering to blind us to the meanSociety too often “sees pain as the en- ing of life.â€? „ CNS

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WORLD 15

Sunday September 6, 2015 „ CatholicNews

War-weary children in Rafah participate in a psychosocial programme. &16 SKRWRV

A girl shares her drawing during an activity in Beit Hanoun.

Agencies use clown, art therapy to help Gaza kids overcome trauma JERUSALEM – Catholic aid agen-

cies having been using various counselling techniques, even a live clown and puppets, to help the Gaza Strip’s children overcome the trauma of losing loved ones and homes in the wake of FRQĂ€LFWV But they warn that only a political solution can hope to remedy the increasingly desperate situation there. “Almost everything we do as an international non-governmental organisation – and most peers would say the same – is like putting a Band-Aid on a pretty serious injury,â€? said Mr Matthew McGarry, Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) country representative for Jerusalem, West Bank and Gaza. +H DQG RWKHU DLG RIÂżFLDOV WROG Catholic News Service that the ORQJ IHVWHULQJ FRQĂ€LFW EHWZHHQ

Israel and Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip, has created a manmade humanitarian and psychosocial crisis that only politics alone can solve. “It’s cumulative. Children as young as seven have lived through three wars in the past seven years – that’s your lifetime,� said Mr McGarry.

Three-quarters of Gaza’s children experience unusual EHG ZHWWLQJ UHJXODUO\ ZKLOH percent of parents said that their children suffer constant feelings of fear, reported a study issued by the Save the Children organisation, based in the UK. More than 70 percent of children worry that another war will EUHDN RXW 6HYHQ RXW RI FKLOdren interviewed now suffer regular nightmares.

For the past year, CRS, Catholic Near East Welfare Associa-

tion (CNEWA) and Caritas have worked with local partners to tackle these problems. “The programme we designed was to reach mainly children, but not exclusively,â€? CNEWA’s Sami El-Yousef told CNS. CNEWA’s psychosocial support became its biggest programme WR DLG SRVW FRQĂ€LFW *D]D KHOSing more than 20,000 at some 30 schools and other community spaces. “Some recreational activities were involved, but others needed

&KLOGUHQ DV \RXQJ ‘DV VHYHQ KDYH OLYHG WKURXJK WKUHH ZDUV LQ WKH SDVW VHYHQ \HDUV

’

– Mr Matthew McGarry, Catholic Relief Services

deep psychological follow-up with specialised counsellors, including the transfer to instituWLRQV TXDOL¿HG WR KDQGOH VHYHUH cases on a one-on-one basis which were detected during the intervention,� he said.

A combination of group and individual counselling, puppets, play and art therapy has begun to show some signs of lessening the trauma.

CRS introduced puppets for WKH ÂżUVW WLPH LQ *D]D DV D ZD\ to encourage children to express their feelings, work through the trauma and adopt non-violent FRQĂ€LFW UHVROXWLRQ SUDFWLFHV 6R far, 3,000 children have participated in such programmes, and more opportunities are planned for them next year.

Caritas Jerusalem has expanded its help beyond psychological staff visits to families and

schools. From July until October, Marco Rodari, an Italian clown therapist, is helping healing hearts in Gaza.

Experienced in working with traumatised and sick children, Mr Rodari has created a special programme for Gaza’s children.

Clown therapy enables the traumatised child to forget for a while the horrors experienced, to feel happy emotions and smile again, Mr Rodari told Caritas.

Making theatre brings out children’s emotions. While performing simple magic tricks, the child uses different parts of the body at the same time, thus activating several parts of the brain. Mr Rodari said this promotes psychological healing and helps to replace “bad emotions and memories with happy, positive feelings and thoughts�. „ CNS

Online registration for Holy Door visitors during Year of Mercy VATICAN CITY – Drawing on the

experience of the public exposition of the Shroud of Turin, VatiFDQ RI¿FLDOV DUH DGRSWLQJ D UHVervation system for pilgrims who want to cross the threshold of the Holy Door at St Peter’s Basilica during the Year of Mercy.

The free, online registration will not be activated until October, but in late August the Vatican published a brief explanation of the plan on www.im.va, which is the website for the Year of Mercy that begins on Dec 8. “Since a large number of pilgrims is anticipated, it is strongly

recommended that pilgrims register their arrival in Rome and the possible times at which they wish to make their pilgrimage,� the notice said. People with special needs, particularly regarding mobility, can enter that information on the reservation form and be assured of assistance when they arrive.

Knowing how many pilgrims to expect on a given day and giving them an appointment so they can avoid hours of waiting in line will “ensure that the pilgrimage remains prayerful�, the Vatican said.

&16 ÂżOH SKRWR

The Holy Door at St Peter’s Basilica.

The Archdiocese of Turin used a similar system to regulate WKH SLOJULP ÀRZ IURP $SULO June 24 for the public exposition of the Shroud of Turin.

Not reserving a date and time in advance will not exclude a pilgrim from crossing the Holy Door’s threshold, the Vatican said; a special pilgrims’ RIÂżFH ZLOO EH RSHQ DORQJ WKH main boulevard leading to St Peter’s Square and pilgrims can make last-minute reservations there. “The pilgrimage to the Holy Doors at the other papal basili-

cas of Rome [St John Lateran, St Mary Major and St Paul Outside the Walls] will not be subject to registration,� the Vatican said.

The Holy Door at St Peter’s Basilica is located to the right of the basilica’s main entrance; between Holy Years it remains sealed with bricks as a symbolic reminder of the barrier of sin between human beings and God. At the beginning of a Holy Year, the pope opens the door to signal the opening of a special year of grace and pardon. „ CNS

16 POPE FRANCIS

Sunday September 6, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Pope marks Ukrainian landmark, calls for peace VATICAN CITY – Marking the 24th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence, Pope Francis sent a letter to the nation’s president and asked Catholics to join him in prayers for peace.

After reciting the Angelus prayer on Aug 23 with visitors in St Peter’s Square, the pope told the crowds, “With deep concern I am IROORZLQJ WKH FRQĂ€LFW LQ HDVWHUQ Ukraine, which has accelerated once again in the past few weeks. “I renew my appeal that the commitments made for achieving peace would be respected and that, with the help of organisations and people of goodwill, there would be a response to the humanitarian emergency in the country,â€? the pope said.

7KH 2UJDQLVDWLRQ IRU 6HFXULW\ and Cooperation in Europe, which is monitoring the situation in Eastern Ukraine where RussianEDFNHG VHSDUDWLVWV DUH ÂżJKWLQJ national troops, has reported in-

FUHDVLQJ YLRODWLRQV RI D FHDVH ÂżUH agreement signed in February.

7KH 81 HVWLPDWHV WKDW ÂżJKWing since April 2014 has claimed at least 6,800 lives; more than 1.4 million Ukrainians are displaced within the country and another 925,000 have sought refugee outside Ukraine.

Noting that Ukraine’s independence day is on Aug 24, the pope prayed that the Lord would grant the country peace.

The Ukrainian Embassy to the Holy See reported on Aug 23 that Pope Francis also had sent a message to President Petro Poroshenko marking independence day. “I pray for your country in this difÂżFXOW VLWXDWLRQ UHQHZLQJ P\ VSLULWXDO DIÂżQLW\ ZLWK YLFWLPV WKHLU families and all those who suffer. “I support the efforts that help the Ukrainian nation move forward LQ WKH VSLULW RI SHDFH DQG UHXQLÂżFDtion,â€? the message read. „ CNS

A man passes a wall in Kiev with portraits of Ukrainian soldiers who died LQ WKH FRQĂ€LFW LQ HDVWHUQ 8NUDLQH CNS Photo

Year of Mercy for migrants VATICAN CITY – In the Year of

Mercy, the Catholic Church’s anQXDO GD\ RI UHĂ€HFWLRQ DQG SUD\HU on the situation of migrants and refugees will include a special reminder that “welcoming the strangerâ€? is a corporal work of mercy.

For World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2016, Pope Francis has chosen the theme: “Migrants and refugees challenge us. The response of the Gospel of mercy,� the Vatican announced on Aug 20.

Closer to the celebration, which is on Jan 17 at the Vatican, Pope Francis will issue a special message, the announcement said.

Explaining the pope’s choice IRU WKH WKHPH WKH 3RQWLÂżFDO &RXQFLO for Migrants and Travellers said the SRSH ÂżUVW ZDQWV WR GUDZ &DWKROLFVÂś attention to “the dramatic situation of many men and women forced to abandon their homelandsâ€?.

In calling a Year of Mercy beginning on Dec 8, Pope Francis said it would be a time to overcome indifference to the needs of others, the council said. “Let us open our eyes and see the misery of the world, the wounds of our brothers and sisters who are denied

their dignity, and let us recognise that we are compelled to heed their cry for help,� the pope wrote in the document proclaiming the year.

The theme’s reference to “the Gospel of mercy,â€? the council said, aims “explicitly to tie the phenomenon of migration to the response of the world and, especially, of the Church. In this context, the Holy Father invites the Christian peoSOH WR UHĂ€HFW GXULQJ WKH MXELOHH year on the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, which includes welcoming the stranger.â€?

The council asked parishes and dioceses around the world to make a special effort during the Year of Mercy to celebrate World Day of Migrants and Refugees and, particularly, to invite migrants and refugees to be part of the planning and commemorations.

As Italy and its politicians struggle with the country’s immigration policy and the thousands of people arriving on Italy’s southHUQ VKRUHV ÀHHLQJ YLROHQFH LQ the Middle East and northern Africa, the council also recalled that World Day of Migrants and Refugees began in Italy in 1914. „ CNS

Pope Francis said families should look to bond by spending more time WRJHWKHU

$ )LOLSLQR IDPLO\ VKDULQJ D PHDO WRJHWKHU RQ $OO 6DLQWV 'D\

Pope: Celebrations, Mass, are essential for family life VATICAN CITY – Families need moments of rest and celebration, time for standing back and recognising the gifts of God and how well they have developed, Pope Francis said.

Celebrations are times “to enjoy that which cannot be produced or consumed, that cannot be bought or sold,� the pope said on Aug 12 at his weekly general audience.

Continuing his series of talks about the family in anticipation of the September celebration of the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia and the world Synod of Bishops on the family LQ 2FWREHU 3RSH )UDQFLV VDLG KH would be looking at “the rhythm RI IDPLO\ OLIH ´ IRFXVLQJ ÂżUVW RQ celebrations, then on work and on prayer. “Celebrations are God’s invention,â€? he said, pointing to the description in the Book of Genesis of how, after creating the world, God took a day of rest and contemplated all He had created.

Life becomes truly human when people take the time to do

the same, the pope said. “A celebration is above all a loving and grateful gaze at work done well,� whether it’s a wedding celebration of a relationship that has matured or birthdays and graduations when people “look at their children or grandchildren who are growing and think, ‘How beautiful.’�

The best parties are always those that gather families together,

The best parties ‘are always those that gather families together.

’

– Pope Francis

Pope Francis said. “Family life, seen with the eyes of faith, shows itself to be worth more than the effort it requires. It is a masterpiece of simplicity and is beautiful preFLVHO\ EHFDXVH LW LV QRW DUWLÂżFLDO not fake.â€?

While not ignoring one’s obligations at work, he said, it also is important to allow celebrations of birthdays, marriages, new births,

ZHOFRPHV RU IDUHZHOOV ÂłWR LQÂżOtrateâ€? the workplace. “They are moments of familiarity that throw a cog in the production line. It does us good.â€?

Days of rest, especially Sunday celebrations of Mass and time with the family, are important reminders that every human being is made in the image and likeness of God and is not a “slave to work.�

In other cases, the pope said, people have made themselves slaves to work, thinking the point of life is to earn a lot of money.

Even when they celebrate, he said, they allow consumerism “to swallow� the party by thinking the more money they spend, the better the celebration will be. “Celebrations are a precious gift God has given the human family. Let’s not ruin them,� he said.

The most important celebration for a family, the pope said, is Sunday Mass, which brings people “the grace of Jesus Christ, His SUHVHQFH +LV ORYH +LV VDFULÂżFH His making us a community, His being with us.â€? „ CNS

Finding Jesus through Gospel readings VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis

asked thousands of people gathered in St Peter’s Square to be quiet for a moment and ponder the question, “Who is Jesus to you?�

After the moment of silence on Aug 23, the pope introduced the midday Angelus prayer by asking Mary to help Christians purify their faith, removing “worldly incrustations and fears.�

Commenting on the day’s Gospel reading from St John, the pope said people were scandalised when Jesus told them He was the “bread of lifeâ€? and “clearly alludedâ€? to the fact that He would VDFULÂżFH +LV OLIH IRU WKHP The people were upset, he VDLG EHFDXVH VXFK WDON GLG QRW ÂżW in with their idea of the Messiah.

They thought “He should speak and act in a way that His mission

would have success immediately.�

The words of Jesus challenge people’s ideas today, as well, he said.

In the Gospel passage, when people started to abandon Jesus, He asked the disciples if they, too, wanted to leave. Peter responded, “Master, to whom shall we go?

You have the words of eternal life.�

Pope Francis told the crowd in St Peter’s Square that like the disciples, Christians must realise that

Do you try to ‘ know Him through His word?

Do you read the Gospel?

’

– Pope Francis

“everything we have in this world will not satisfy our hunger for the LQÂżQLWH :H QHHG -HVXV :H QHHG to stay with Him, to nourish ourselves at His table and with His words that are eternal life.â€?

The disciples made their statement of faith, he said, and Christians today should ask themselves: “Who is Jesus for me? Is He a name, an idea, just a historic ÂżJXUH" 2U LV +H WUXO\ D SHUVRQ who loves me, who gave His life for me and who walks with me?â€?

Recognising Jesus as the “bread of life� is only one step, the pope said. “Do you try to know Him through His word? Do you read the Gospel, a passage each day to get to know Jesus?� “The more we are with Jesus, the greater our desire to stay with Him,� Pope Francis said. „ CNS

POPE FRANCIS 17

Sunday September 6, 2015 CatholicNews

Pope urges expansion of priests’ Vatican Museums’ app on-call emergency service VATICAN CITY – A new app has

VATICAN CITY – The Year of Mercy is a perfect time to increase the number of priests who take turns being on call all night for emergency spiritual care of the sick and dying, Pope Francis wrote.

The pope, as Jesuit Fr Jorge Mario Bergoglio, belonged to a special service, which is supported by the Federation of Priestly Emergency Services, an organisation of laypeople in Argentina and Ecuador who drive and accompany priests on their night-time calls.

In a letter on July 27 to the federation’s president, Mr Manuel Martin Sjoberg, Pope Francis wrote, “The coming extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy is a good occasion for intensifying the collaboration between pastors and laypeople in the mission of sup-

porting with affection and tenderly assisting the sick and dying.”

The pope also quoted from his document announcing the Year of

The coming Jubilee of ‘ Mercy is a good occasion for intensifying the collaboration between pastors and laypeople in the mission of supporting with affection and tenderly assisting the sick and dying.

’

– Pope Francis

Mercy, which begins on Dec 8, calling people to reach out and support those who are suffering “so they can feel the warmth of our presence, our

friendship and our fraternity.”

In the Gospel, Jesus tells people they will be judged by how they cared for the sick, he said.

“In each of these ‘little ones,’ Christ Himself is present.”

According to Luis Badilla, who writes for the respected blog Il Sismografo, the federation is present in the city of Cordoba as well as in 17 dioceses of Argentina.

The group was founded more than 60 years ago by Armando Cesar Sanchez, a lawyer in Cordoba, after knocking on the doors of a dozen churches one night seeking, without success, a priest to come to his dying son.

“Bars, pharmacies, barbershops and bookstores were all open, but no churches,” Badilla wrote on Aug 14. CNS

been launched by the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums in mid-August. “Patrum” is a part social network and part crowdsourcing app that lets museum fans communicate with each other and make donations online.

By downloading the app, members of the public can chat with others about famous works of art in the Vatican Museums, share strategies for dealing with the crowds and choose a work to help restore.

The app includes short feature stories about people who work in the museums or who are members of the Patrons; it provides tips for tourists; and it explains some of the art and architecture at the Vatican, both well-known and those overlooked.

With a little tap on a bright

red button, users also can choose WR GRQDWH WR D VSHFL¿F SURject. As the app was launched, these were some of the things on the Vatican Museums’ wish list: Creating a new display for the vestments of Pope Clement VIII, who was pope from 1592 to 1605. The goal is to raise US$191,750 (S$270,000) for new display cases, climate control to protect the fabrics and the construction of a Mass “scene” with an altar and mannequins to give an idea of what the vestments would look like in their proper environment.

Purchasing an EOS Synthesis laser for cleaning ancient artifacts. Price tag: US$49,500.

The museums estimate the project cost at US$105,996. CNS

The app is currently available for iOS users only.

18 POPE FRANCIS

Sunday September 6, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Work gives dignity and identity VATICAN CITY – Work is an important expression of human dignity and of caring for one’s family, but today there is a “dangerous tendencyâ€? to consider a worker’s family obligations as an obstacle WR SURGXFWLYLW\ DQG SURÂżW 3RSH Francis said. “But let’s ask ourselves: What productivity? And for whom?â€? he said on Aug 19 at his weekly general audience as he continued a long series of audience talks about the family and family life. “Work, in its thousand forms, beginning with housework, is about caring for the common good,â€? providing for one’s family and cooperating with God in creating goods and services that are useful to others, the pope said.

To say someone is a “hard worker,� he said, is a compliment, just as saying someone “lives off�

DQRWKHU LV D SXW GRZQ 6W 3DXO LQ 2 Thessalonians, tells Christians that if they do not work, they should not eat. “It’s a great recipe for losing weight, eh?� the pope said. “Work – and I repeat, in all its

forms – is human. It expresses the dignity of being created in the image of God, which is why it can EH VDLG WKDW ZRUN LV VDFUHG ´ 3RSH Francis told pilgrims gathered in the Vatican audience hall.

Work is so important for individual identity, for the ability

– and I repeat, in ‘allWork its forms – is human.

It expresses the dignity of being created in the image of God, which is why it can be said that work is sacred.

’

– Pope Francis

it gives people to support their families and for its contribution to the community that creating and organising employment is a huge “human and social responsibility, which cannot be left in the hands of a few or pushed off onto a divinised market,� the pope said. “To cause the loss of jobs is

Pope Francis has stressed that work is a responsibilty shared by everyone to support the individual and families.

to cause great social damage,â€? he said. “It makes me sad when I see there are no jobs, when there are people without work who canQRW ÂżQG D MRE DQG ZKR GR QRW have the dignity of being able to bring bread home,â€? he said. “And I rejoice when I see governments making great efforts to promote HPSOR\PHQW WR ÂżQG MREV DQG WR

try to make sure everyone has work.�

Work is part of the normal rhythm of life for individuals and for families, he said. It must alternate with times of rest or celebration and, especially, time for prayer.

Attitudes toward work that consider the family an obstacle to productivity, he said, also tend to

see the workforce as something “to assemble, use or dispose of� only according to how much money it makes.

The family is “the proving ground� of labour policies, he said. “When the organisation of work takes the family hostage or blocks its progress, then we can be certain society has begun working against itself.�

Christian families, the pope said, have a mission to remind the world of the fundamental principles of God’s creation and God’s plan: “the identity and bond between man and woman; the generation of children; work that tames and makes the world habitable.â€? “The beauty of the earth and the dignity of work were made to go together,â€? he said. But when the family, the earth or labour are ÂłKRVWDJH WR WKH ORJLF RI SURÂżW ´ then everything is poisoned and the poorest families suffer most. “The task isn’t easy. Sometimes it seems that families are like David facing Goliath, but we NQRZ KRZ WKDW VWRU\ HQGHG ´ 3RSH Francis said. „ CNS

POPE FRANCIS 19

Sunday September 6, 2015 CatholicNews

Assumption tells us to have faith in God VATICAN CITY – Mary’s

assumption into heaven and, in fact, her entire life show believers the great things that God has in store for them, Pope Francis said.

“The ‘great things’ the Almighty has done for her touch us deeply, speak of our journey through life and remind us of the destination that awaits us: the house of the Father,” Pope Francis said on Aug 15, during the feast of the Assumption. )RU WKH ¿UVW WLPH LQ some 60 years, the public recited the Assumption day Angelus prayer with the pope at the Vatican.

Usually, the pope would EH DW &DVWHO *DQGROIR IRU the feast day, unless he is travelling abroad. Pope )UDQFLV ZHQW WR &DVWHO Gandolfo for Assumption feast day on Aug 15, 2013. He was in South Korea for the feast day last year.

Before leading the recita-

A painting of the Assumption of Mary by Ludwig Lofftz, 1888.

tion of the Marian prayer at the Vatican, he spoke about Mary’s “Magnificat,” her hymn of

praise for the great things the Lord has done.

“She is a believer – the great believer,” the pope said. “She knows and she says that history is weighted down by the violence of the powerful, the pride of the rich and the arrogance of the proud.

“Nevertheless, Mary believes and proclaims that God does not leave His humble and poor children alone, but rescues them with His mercy and His care, toppling the powerful from their thrones,” the pope said.

The assumption of Mary, body and soul, into heaven, he said, is a sign to all believers that life “is not a senseless wandering, but a pilgrimage that, although there are uncertainties and suffering, has a sure goal: the house of the Father, who awaits us with love.”

CNS

Vatican accepting applications from potential ‘missionaries of mercy’ VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis is

looking for a few good “missionaries of mercy,” priests who are known for their preaching and their dedication to hearing confessions and granting absolution.

If they have their bishop’s or superior’s support, priests interested in being one of the special communicators of God’s mercy are invited to apply online.

7KH 3RQWL¿FDO &RXQFLO IRU 3URmoting New Evangelisation, the RI¿FH 3RSH )UDQFLV FKDUJHG ZLWK coordinating the Holy Year of Mercy, which begins on Dec 8, posted a list of desired qualities and the application form on the Year of Mercy website: http://www.im.va/.

The missionaries will be commissioned formally by the pope and sent out on Feb 10, Ash Wednesday.

The council said the missionaries are to be “a living sign of the Father’s welcome to all those

in search of his forgiveness.”

They should be “inspiring preachers of mercy; heralds of the joy of forgiveness; welcoming, loving and compassionate confessors, who are most especially at-

They should be ‘inspiring preachers of mercy; heralds of the joy of forgiveness; welcoming, loving and compassionate confessors.’

WHQWLYH WR WKH GLI¿FXOW VLWXDWLRQV RI each person.”

When Pope Francis announced the Holy Year of Mercy, he said he would give the “missionaries of mercy” special authority or faculties “to pardon even those sins reserved to the Holy See.”

Bishop Juan Ignacio Arrieta, VHFUHWDU\ RI WKH 3RQWL¿FDO &RXQFLO for Legislative Texts, said the reference to “reserved” sins refers to actions that can bring with them automatic excommunication, for example, abortion when the person is aware of the penalty and commits the sin anyway.

If the person is repentant, he said, the missionaries will be able to remove the excommunication and grant absolution in those cases, which normally require the intervention or permission of the local bishop or the Apostolic Penitentiary, a Vatican court. CNS

20 OPINION

Sunday September 6, 2015 „ CatholicNews

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FEATURE

Use of adult stem cells proven and effective

By Beth Donze Adult stem cells, easily harvested from human bone marrow, umbilical cord blood and fat tissue, have a successful track record in treatments for more than 90 medical conditions and diseases, including sickle cell anaemia, multiple myeloma cancer and damaged heart tissue.

Adult stem cells can be retrieved and used in treatments while doing no harm to donor or recipient.

So why do so many people, including some physicians, continue to champion research involving embryonic stem cells which require the destruction of human life in its youngest form?

That question was pondered

by Mr David Prentice last month at the National Right to Life Convention during his presentation “Adult Stem Cells: Saving Lives Now.�

Mr Prentice, vice president and research director for the Washington-based Charlotte Lozier Institute – the education and research arm of the pro-life Susan B Anthony List – reported that more than 70,000 patients throughout the world are receiving adult stem-cell transplants annually, with an estimated 1 million total patients treated to date.

There is more good news about adult stem cells besides its ethical supremacy, Mr Prentice said. Unlike embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells are readily available to the majority of patients.

Many types of adult stem cells can be harvested in relatively painless, outpatient procedures.

For example, adult stem cells from bone marrow, once accessible only by deep needle extraction, can now be collected in a process akin to giving blood. Another source of stem cells – fat tissue – can be tapped via liposuction.

Also, despite being tagged as “adult,� children can receive the therapy as early as the in-utero

An embryologist removes frozen embryos from a storage tank. Unlike embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells have been used to cure numerous medical conditions while being harmless to donor and recipient. &16 ÂżOH SKRWR

A man who lost part of his jaw to cancer regrew his jawbone, has no lingering signs of GLVÂżJXUHPHQW DQG ZDV DEOH WR HDW KLV ÂżUVW VROLG meal in nine years. stage, and the donors of adult stem cells do not have to be adult at all. “Babies are born with [adult] stem cells throughout their body,â€? said Mr Prentice, an adjunct professor of molecular genetics at the 3RQWLÂżFDO -RKQ 3DXO ,, ,QVWLWXWH IRU Studies on Marriage and Family at the Catholic University of America. “The umbilical cord that we cut off after the baby is born is rich in what we call adult stem cells.â€?

Besides requiring the killing of human life, Mr Prentice said, embryonic stem-cell research posed a major threat to women’s health that went largely unpublicised during the height of the push for this technology in the

¿UVW GHFDGH RI WKH VW FHQWXU\ :RPHQ EHWZHHQ WKH DJHV RI and 35 were actively sought and handsomely paid for their eggs to keep pace with the demands of heavily funded research. To harvest a woman’s eggs, the donor is given a regimen of hormones RYHU D SHULRG RI WKUHH WR ¿YH GD\V Prentice said.

Unforeseen side-effects included ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, kidney failure and infertility. “Some women have even died in the process,� Mr Prentice said.

He provided examples in his presentation. „ A woman grew an entirely new bladder made from her own adult stem cells. „ A woman was initially told by her doctors that she would have to have her leg amputated, but kept the leg after her own bone marrow was enlisted to grow new blood vessels in the diseased limb. „ A man who lost part of his jaw to cancer regrew his jawbone, KDV QR OLQJHULQJ VLJQV RI GLVÂżJurement and was able to eat his ÂżUVW VROLG PHDO LQ QLQH \HDUV „ A young girl with a perpetual “soft spotâ€? on her head successfully grew bone over the spot, thanks to adult stem cells taken from her own fat tissue. „ Damaged corneal tissue has been successfully regenerated, restoring vision. „ In one published case, a man with Parkinson’s disease was treated with adult stem cells taken from his own brain and has had no V\PSWRPV RI WKH GLVHDVH IRU ÂżYH years. „ Genetic skin diseases also are being treated successfully.

One new technique involves the spraying of adult stem cells onto third-degree burns to generate fresh skin growth in half the time of a traditional skin graft. „ CNS Donze is a staff writer at the Clarion Herald, newspaper of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, USA.

Politically correct could also be morally correct JUST because something is politically correct doesn’t mean that it might not also be correct. Sometimes we have to swallow hard to accept truth.

Some years ago, I served on a Priests’ Council, an advisory board to the bishop in a Roman Catholic diocese. The bishop, while strongly conservative by temperament, was a deeply principled man who did not let his natural temperament or his spontaneous feelings dictate his decisions.

His decisions he made on principle, and sometimes that meant he had to swallow hard.

At one point, for example, he found himself under strong pressure to raise the salaries of lay employees in the diocese. The pressure was coming from a very vocal group of social-justice advocates who were quoting the Church’s social doctrines in the face of protests that the diocese could not afford to pay the kind of wages they were demanding.

Their cause also leaned on politically correctness. This didn’t make things easy for the bishop, given his conservative temperament and conservative friends.

But he was, as I said, a man of principle. He came one morning to the Priests’ Council and asked the priests to give him a mandate to give the diocesan employees the wage increase they were demanding. The Priests’ Council told him that they would not bow to political correctness and voted against it. A month later, the bishop came back to the Priest’s Council and asked the priests again for their support, prefacing his request by telling the priests that, should they vote against it again, he would do it on his own, invoking executive privilege.

One of the priests, a close personal friend of his, said: “You’re only asking us to do this because it’s politically correct.� The bishop answered him: “No, we’re not doing this because it’s politically correct. We’re doing it because it is correct! We can’t preach the Gospel with integrity if we don’t live it out ourselves. “We need to pay a living wage because that’s what the Gospel and Catholic social doctrine demands – not because it’s politically correct.� In saying this, the bishop was swallowing hard, swallowing his own temperament, swallowing his friend’s irritation, and swallowing his own irritation at having to bow to something that was presented as politically correct. But principle trumped feeling.

And principle needs to trump feeling because, so often, when something comes at us with the label that this must be accepted because it is politically correct, our spontaneous reaction is negative and we are tempted, out of emotional spite, to reject it simply because of the cloak it’s wearing and the voices who are advocating for it.

It’s easy to react with spite rather than empathy. But, like the bishop, we need to be principled and mature enough to not let emotion and temperament sway our perspective and our decisions.

Just because a truth comes cloaked in political correctness and we hear it voiced in self-righteousness doesn’t necessarily mean it isn’t true. Political correctness is normally irritating, exaggerated, unbalanced, pompous, and lacking in nuance, but it serves an important purpose.

We need this mirror: How we spontaneously speak about others ÀXVKHV RXW D ORW RI RXU EOLQG VSRWV $PRQJ RWKHU WKLQJV SROLWLFDO FRUrectness, as a check on our language, helps keep civil discourse civil, something in short supply today.

Talk radio, cable television, blogs, tweets, and editorials are today more and more being characterised by a language that’s rude, insensiWLYH DQG ÀDW RXW GLVUHVSHFWIXO Politics, Church, and community at every level today need to be much more careful about language, careful about being politically correct, because the violence in our culture very much mirrors the violence in our language.

Words work strongly to shape attitudes and if we allow our words to chip away at elementary courtesy and respect and allow them to offend others we help spawn a culture of disrespect.

Political correctness comes to us from both the left and the right.

Both liberals and conservatives help dictate it and both can be equally self-righteous and bullying.

But we must always remember that just because something is politically correct doesn’t mean that it also might not be correct. Sometimes we just need to swallow hard and accept the truth. „

FOCUS 21

Sunday September 6, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Elderly can still contribute, offer gifts to community Embracing the aging process can lead to a greater appreciation of life EDMONTON, CANADA – Paulist Fr Thomas Ryan was turning 50 when he decided he didn’t want just another birthday cake, scoop of ice cream and “Happy Birthday� song.

The US priest wanted to look seriously at the second half of his life and its potential.

Instead of a birthday party, Fr Ryan – who was directing an ecumenical centre for spirituality in Montreal, Canada, at the time – called for a 50th birthday weekend retreat, inviting family and friends.

It was refreshingly countercultural, engaging in topics such as retirement, health limitations and even some “wonderful sharings� about the kind of funeral people would like, he said.

His birthday retreat programme, he added, was a hit.

Nearly 20 years later, Fr Ryan, now 69, continues to lead the retreats all over North America. The Washington-based author and director of the Paulist Fathers’ Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations led the week-long Remember to Live retreat at Providence Renewal Centre in Edmonton from July 31-Aug 7.

In this age of obsession with youth, advertisements and nightly news programmes often convey a sense that if you eat right, exercise regularly and take the right vitamins and medicines, people will OLYH LQGHÂżQLWHO\ VDLG )U 5\DQ He said never before have so many North Americans reached retirement age with such advanced education, social consciousness and good health. “So what will we do with it?â€? he asked. “We have an unprecedented opportunity to keep growing, to learn and to offer our many

Fr Thomas Ryan has encouraged the elderly to remain active and to continue using their gifts. CNS photo

gifts to our neighborhood, our city or school.�

Passive aging sees the last season of life as “a slow slide toward death and the natural changes of the body are accompanied by a creeping paralysis of the soul,� Fr Ryan said. “But I’m talking about active aging, and active aging works with the effects of aging by adjusting the rhythm and the pace,� he told retreat participants.

For Fr Ryan, healthy aging means living life as a celebration. The person who ages actively “moves to simply a gentler form of exercise but stays active.� Or, perhaps they compensate for their hearing loss by getting a good pair of headphones to listen to programmes or CDs. Aging is not a burden or problem to be solved, he said.

Today, the aging process can extend for 30 or more years, and several delicate transitions need to be negotiated, he said.

For example, it can mean the loss

Elderly men playing checkers, in Singapore’s Chinatown. Staying active is one of the ways the elderly can contribute to their community.

of one’s professional identity. When you are no longer head of your corSRUDWLRQ RU \RXU RI¿FH RU SULQFLSDO of the school, who are you?

Other delicate transitions might include the departure of your children; the new rhythm of life when all of a sudden your spouse is with you at home or the confrontation of solitude for those who have already lost a spouse; the arrival of grandchildren; or the decline of strength and energy. ³7KRVH DUH GLI¿FXOW LVVXHV IRU us to face squarely,� said Fr Ryan.

He pointed to a study that found

nearly 70 percent of adult children have not even talked to their parents about issues related to aging.

Facing these realities squarely and accepting their inevitability has a big reward, he said. “When we truly accept that life as we know it on this lovely blue and green planet is not given in limitless supply, we begin to think more clearly about what is important to us,� he said. “What do I want to do with the time I have, how do I want to use my available resources? We employ the talents which God has gifted us to leave

our world better than we found it.�

When people open their eyes to life and to its richness in each day’s living, they realise that every day, every minute, every breath, truly is a gift from God, Fr Ryan said. “In short, you remember to live. Each day’s living just becomes so much richer – cultivating gratitude in your heart for the sweetness of life, for the glories of creation, for the gift of the love received from family and friends. “And when we live out of that gratitude, life becomes very sweet,� he said. „ CNS

22 FAITH ALIVE!

Sunday September 6, 2015 CatholicNews

Learning and living out the ways of our Blessed Mother A special feature for the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Sept 8

By Marge Fenelon We remember our mothers because they gave us life. They nurtured us within their wombs, cared for us as infants and did what they could to get us to where we are now. Without them, many of us wouldn’t be here.

In the life of Catholics, however, we have another mother who is important. Mary isn’t just a mother. She is the ideal of a mother, the ideal of a woman, but also the ideal to live up to for men, when it comes to grace, obedience and strength.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says in No. 967 that “by her complete adherence to the Father’s will, to His son’s redemptive work and to every prompting of the Holy Spirit, the Virgin Mary is the Church’s model of faith and charity.” It continues and says that she is a “pre-eminent and ... wholly unique member of the Church” and is the “exemplary realisation.”

In No. 968, the catechism says that “her role in relation to the Church and to all humanity goes still further,” and we have to look at how “in a wholly singular way she cooperated by her obedience, faith, hope and burning charity in the Savior’s work of restoring supernatural life to souls.”

That’s a lot to live up to.

But we have to get beyond the ideal that seems almost impossible to reach and look at her unconditional yes to the angel Gabriel, look at how she became truly, and in a very human way, everlastingly, our mother on a profound and spiritual level.

Can we act with trusting faith and perhaps accept God’s will instead of being upset that our plans didn’t work out the way we wanted? Can we give our entire being to another? Are we capable of helping to nourish the faith of others?

We can embark on Mary’s hu-

We can embark on Mary’s human journey of giving our consent to accept God’s will, to help nourish the faith of others and to serve, with charity, those who need of us.

A painting of The Annunciation by Leonardo da Vinci. CNS photo

man journey of giving our consent to accept God’s will, to help nourish the faith of others and to serve, with charity, those who need of us.

The catechism continues in No. 969: “This motherhood of Mary in the order of grace continues uninterruptedly from the consent which she loyally gave at the annunciation and which she sus-

tained without wavering beneath the cross.”

Like a natural mother who carries her child within the womb of her body, Mary carries her children in the womb of her heart.

As a natural mother does with her children, Mary also nourishes, tends and protects us.

Often she does so in the care of our souls, but she also inter-

cedes for our physical and material needs as well. That kind of attentiveness, one that never stops, began the day we were conceived and will continue for the rest of time. Mary is a mother who never stops giving and who teaches us to do likewise. CNS Fenelon is a freelance writer from Milwaukee, USA.

Viewing Mary’s humanity as a woman of her time

By Daniel S. Mulhall A few years ago, a survey was conducted asking parents what qualities they would like their children to have when they grew up.

The researchers were surprised to learn that in every country and culture, parents wanted their children to grow up having the same types of positive qualities: honesty, integrity, courage, religiosity and the like.

As the researchers reported, no parent said they wanted their children to be liars or cheats.

7KH UHVHDUFKHUV GLG ¿QG ZLGH divergence over what methods parents would use to raise their children to have the qualities they named.

Similarly, if you asked people what qualities they loved about their mothers or fathers, you would probably generate answers suggesting the archetypical mother or father: kind, generous, encouraging, strict, etc.

We have an ideal in mind when we speak of a good mother or father, and all parents are judged against that ideal.

Mary, the mother of Jesus, has been recognised and honoured with an almost unlimited number of titles by Church communities around the world because of her many appearances and also because RI KHU UROH DV WKH ¿UVW GLVFLSOH RI -Hsus, for which she is rightly known

as the Mother of the Church.

Over the centuries, it has been easy to place Mary upon a pedestal and honour her above all other women, making her perfect in the process. But in these efforts to honour her, might we have missed an &16 ¿OH SKRWR

Pope Francis touching the statue of Our Lady of Fatima. He said Mary’s faith was special because it was lived out everyday.

important lesson by not looking at her as the real woman that she was?

Might we have forgotten that she was human, that she struggled as all mothers struggle, that she might have had doubts and fears, that she may not have always felt she lived up to the

ideal image of the perfect mother?

Pope Francis recently noted that it was important that we remember Mary was fully and truly human. She was a woman who by her courageous and faithful actions accomplished extraordinary things.

Mary had a husband and a child.

She cared for the family and made the family home just as any other Jewish woman would have done in her time, and as mothers all over the world still do today. As Pope Francis has also pointed out, Mary was wonderfully humble.

Nowhere in Scripture is there a suggestion that she thought that she was worthy of the honour bestowed upon her or that she had lived a perfect life and so deserved God’s favour.

When the Church offers Mary DV WKH ¿UVW GLVFLSOH RU WKH LPDJH RI the perfect disciple, maybe it would help if we saw those titles through the lens of ordinary women.

As Pope Francis recently said, Mary’s faith was special because she lived it out every day. She engaged in conversation continually with God. She understood the world through the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Mary’s faith, Pope Francis said, was “nourished by her experience as a mother and by her close relationship with her son.” CNS Mulhall is a catechist. He lives in Laurel, Maryland, USA.

COMMENTARY 23

Sunday September 6, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Reaching out to the disabled with love

By Liz Quirin

Pope Francis greets a disabled child at the Vatican. The Church must look to better accomodate the disabled into the community.

Most of the time when we speak about “people with disabilities� we refer to those with physical disabilities. They and their families have many obstacles to navigate in daily living as well as challenges not only in practising but also fully participating in the Catholic faith.

Consider the person who would like to be a lector or extraordinary minister of holy Communion, and the sanctuary has steps. If that person uses a wheelFKDLU RU KDV GLIÂżFXOW\ PDQDJLQJ steps, that person may not be able to lector or distribute Communion without some accommodation.

Hopefully, a parish could and would immediately overcome that challenge and provide an opportunity to everyone in the community who wants to take on a liturgical role.

People in a parish might not recognise someone in their midst with a mental disability because we can’t always see the disability.

Families are sometimes reluctant to share their stories when a child or parent has a disorder that is FODVVLÂżHG DV D PHQWDO GLVDELOLW\ EHcause they are embarrassed or want to keep their information private.

We have to respect their pri-

vacy but somehow let them know that we want to support them in whatever way we can. It’s tricky balancing that concern and a family’s right or need for privacy.

Where does the Church stand on issues of mental illness? In a 1978 pastoral statement, the US bishops said: “People with dis-

It isn’t easy to make major adjustments for the disabled in church, perhaps building ramps for folks in wheelchairs, changing the rules so lectors don’t have to walk XS ¿YH VWHSV WR GHOLYHU a reading, but these are necessary adjustments so WKDW ZH FDQ EH ¾RQH ÀRFNœ abilities are not looking for pity.

They seek to serve the community and to enjoy their full baptismal rights as members of the church. “Our interaction with them FDQ DQG VKRXOG EH DQ DIÂżUPDtion of our faith. There can be no separate Church for people with GLVDELOLWLHV :H DUH RQH Ă€RFN WKDW follows a single shepherd.â€?

Those are wonderful words, good to use as our guide, but things don’t always work out the way we want them to.

It isn’t easy to make major adjustments for the disabled, perhaps building ramps for folks in wheelchairs, changing the rules so lectors GRQœW KDYH WR ZDON XS ¿YH VWHSV WR deliver a reading, but these are necessary adjustments so that we can EH ³RQH ÀRFN ´ However, when we have someone with mental disabilities or young people with special needs, the accommodations are PXFK PRUH GLI¿FXOW How do you prepare a child with mental disabilities to receive the sacraments? Some dioceses have adapted, adjusted and ministered to these special people in wonderful ways, crafting materiDOV WR ¿W WKH QHHGV RI WKH SHUVRQ instead of trying to mould the person to the materials.

We have to reach out in love to all of God’s people so that everyone feels welcome, including those families that deal with monumental struggles to bring the message of the Gospel to their members. „ CNS Liz Quirin is the editor of The Messenger, newspaper of the Diocese of %HOOHYLOOH ,OOLQRLV 86$

24

Sunday September 6, 2015 „ CatholicNews

One day, as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, Jesus’ followers asked Him what signs there would be of His coming in the end times.

Jesus told His friends there would be wars, famines and earthquakes. People would become more evil. False prophets pretending to be the Messiah would trick people, and the Lord’s followers would be persecuted and killed. “See that you are not alarmed, for these things must happen,â€? Jesus said. “But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the world as a witness to all nations, and then the end will come.â€? Then, Jesus said, there will be great tribulation – which means VXIIHULQJ Âą DQG SHRSOH ZLOO Ă€HH WKHLU

homes. After this time, the Son of Man will come, the Lord explained.

Jesus told His friends to watch for the signs of His coming, just like people ZDWFK WKH ÂżJ WUHH WR VHH VLJQV RI WKH coming of warm weather. “When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.

In the same way, when you see all these things, know that He is near, at the gates,� Jesus said.

He also warned His followers that no one – not even Him or the angels – know when He will return; only God knows. “Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come,� He said. He then gave an example of two servants whose masters left them in charge of their households. One servant was faithful to his master and distributed food to the household at the proper time, as

SPOTLIGHT ON SAINTS:

St William St William (d. 1070) was an English priest who worked to bring the Gospel to the pagans of Denmark. He eventually was made bishop of Roskilde on the island of Zealand, which is an island of Denmark.

During his time as bishop, William disagreed with some of the actions of King Sweyn Estridsen. Even though disagreeing with the king could get him killed, William was not afraid and told Sweyn what he was doing wrong and to ask for forgiveness. The king changed his ways, and the two men became good friends.

We honour William on Sept 2. „

he was asked. Then his master arrived and saw his servant doing what he was told. “Amen, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property,� Jesus said. The unfaithful servant sees his master has not yet arrived, so he does not do what he was told, Jesus said.

The master comes home unexpectedly and the unfaithful servant is caught doing evil things and is punished. “So too, you also must be pre-

pared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come,� the Lord said. „ Read more about it: Matthew 24

Q&A 1. What are two signs of the end times?

2. Who knows when the Son of Man will return?

Wordsearch: „ MASTER „ FAMINES „ GOSPEL „ ANGELS „ PROPER „ TREE

„ MASTER „ RETURN

„ WARS

„ LEAVES „ EVIL

„ HOMES

BIBLE TRIVIA: What liturgical season focuses on watching and waiting?

Bible Accent:

Answer to puzzle: 1, 3, 4, 5.

Answer to Bible Trivia: Advent

Near the end of the Book of Matthew, we read about the importance of watching and waiting.

In Matthew 24, the coming of the Son of Man –Jesus – is comSDUHG WR WKH FRPLQJ RI WKH ÀRRG in the Old Testament. God warned 1RDK WR ZDWFK IRU WKH FRPLQJ ÀRRG EXW HYHU\one else on earth was caught by surprise when they were carried away by the water and died.

Matthew 25 contains the parable of the 10 virgins. They lit their lamps to meet the bridegroom and go to a wedding IHDVW 7KH ¿YH ZLVH RQHV EURXJKW H[WUD RLO LQ FDVH WKHLU ODPSV QHHGHG WR EH UH¿OOHG ZKLOH WKH ¿YH IRROLVK RQHV GLG QRW 7KH wait was so long that they fell asleep. Suddenly, they woke XS WR ¿QG WKDW WKH EULGHJURRP ZDV FRPLQJ 7KH ZLVH YLUJLQV relit their lamps, but the foolish ones had to go buy more oil. In the meantime, the bridegroom came and all who were ready – including the wise virgins – went to the feast with him. The door was locked behind them, and when the foolish virgins returned, they were told they could not come in.

We do not want to be shut out of heaven, so we always need to watch and wait for Jesus’ return. „

PUZZLE: 3XW DQ ; QH[W WR WKH WLWOHV RI VRPH RI WKH SDUDEOHV \RX FDQ ÂżQG LQ WKH Bible. (For hints, see Luke 10:29, Matthew 13:31, Matthew 18:21-35)

„ 1. The good Samaritan „ 3. The unforgiving servant „ 5. The forgiving king

„ 2. The wayward boy „ 4. The mustard seed Answer to Wordsearch

By Jennifer Ficcaglia

WHAT’S ON 25

Sunday September 6, 2015 „ CatholicNews

EVENT SUBMISSIONS We welcome information of events happening in our local Church.

Please send your submission at least one month before the event.

Online submissions can be made at www.catholicnews.sg/whatson

social mission in our society today. There ZLOO EH WDONV VSLULWXDO LQSXW UHĂ€HFWLRQV and sharings on what Caritas Singapore and the various charity organisations are doing to help those in need and how young adults can be a part of it. For more information and registration, please refer to: www.caritas-singapore.org

31 AUG - 12 OCT 2015 SFX LIFE IN THE SPIRIT SEMINAR 2015 Mondays, 8pm - 9.30pm. Saturday, 1.30pm - 5.30pm. Venue: SFX Parish Hall. For registration and further information, please contact the following: 1) Jean Toh, 90026616, liwahteo@ymail. com 2) Catherine Chew, 90663514, catherlee@gmail.com 3) Lidia Ko, 96331882, lidiako@yahoo.com.

Register online at www.sfxchurch.sg

SEPTEMBER 5 2015 BUILDING A CULTURE OF LIFE Come join us for an interactive evening of discussion to understand the roots of the Culture of Death and how we can begin to build a Culture of Life. Speaker: Andy Wee is the Administrator of the Prolife Singapore group and has a keen interest in Prolife topics. He is an instructor with Natural Family Planning and helps couples to overcome subfertility issues with the use of the Creighton Model and NaproTechnology.

Venue: The training Room, 10 Anson Rd, 29-03A, International Plaza. Details at catholic.sg/act. Cost Free. Register at: http://tinyurl.com/ACT-Talk-Signu

SEPT 01 TO NOV 2 REVELATION - THE KINGDOM YET TO COME Jeff Cavins explores Revelation to show how the Kingdom established by Christ is intimately connected with the Kingdom of Heaven, especially through the celebration of the Mass. Learn what all the mysterious ÂżJXUHV DQG LPDJHV RI 5HYHODWLRQ represent, as well as what will happen during the Second Coming of Christ, what has already happened, and what is happening now in salvation history. At Church of the Risen Christ (Toa Payoh).

Register at http://free.risenchrist.org.sg or email free.risenchrist@gmail.com

SEPTEMBER 5 TO SEPTEMBER 7 CHILDREN’S DRAMA WORKSHOP 2015 Theatre of Gifts would like to welcome all children aged 6-12 to join this year’s Children’s Drama Workshop. It will be held in the Parish of Christ the King (2221 Ang Mo Kio Ave 8, 569809). The workshop ZLOO EH IURP SP RQ WKH ¿UVW WZR GD\V and 8-9pm on the last day. For more information, feel free to contact William@ 91722784 or Timothy@97807923.

SEP 3 TO NOV 12 (10 THURSDAYS) SYMBOLON - THE CATHOLIC FAITH EXPLAINED. 7.45pm-9.30pm. It’s FREE!. A DVD programme presented by Dr. Edward Sri. Symbolon will take you through a journey into the timeless beauty and truths of the Catholic faith and reveal God’s incredible love for us – the story of our salvation.

Refreshments will be served. Organised

by LiFE – Living in Faith Experience, a faith formation group. At the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM), 24 Highland Road S549115.

Register E: life@ihm.sg, T: 92212816 (Agnes), C: 91270707 (Faustina)

SEPT 6, SUNDAY, 9.30AM-3.30PM IHM BLOODMOBILE MERCY OUTREACH IHM Bloodmobile Mercy Outreach. Glory to God, Service to Society! Give blood & save up to 3 lives! Donors must be between 16 to 60 yrs & weigh above 45kg. 1st time donors are most welcome. Bring NRIC or Wk Permit & another blood donor! Venue: 24 Highland Rd, Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Multi-purpose Hall.

SEPTEMBER 8 2015 WHAT IS SOCIAL ETHICS? 7.30pm-9.30pm: At the heart of who we are as humans and as Christians is our social/ FRPPXQDO LGHQWLW\ 2XU UHĂ€HFWLRQ RQ VRFLDO ethics, then, is more than an intellectual and “detachedâ€? consideration of our rights and responsibilities. This evening seminar will show how our faith has a social dimension that is important for understanding both society and Church. Facilitator: Fr Peter McIsaac, SJ. Fee: $30. Organised by Kingsmead Centre. At Kingsmead Centre,

SEPT 5 (SAT), 9A.M. TO 5P.M. YOUNG ADULTS AWARENESS EVENT 2015 Theme: ‘The Island of Mercy in a sea of indifference’. Agape Village. 7A Lorong 8 Toa Payoh. An invitation to young adults to join this journey of awareness and UHĂ€HFWLRQ RQ KRZ WKH\ FDQ OLYH RXW WKHLU

Crossword Puzzle 1143

8 Victoria Park Road. Register T: 6467 6072; Email: cisc2664@gmail.com.

SEPTEMBER 10 TO SEPTEMBER 13 DISCERNMENT OF SPIRITS 10am (Thursday)-5pm (Sunday): In this 4-day preached stay-in retreat, we ZLOO UHĂ€HFW DQG SUD\ WRJHWKHU WR GLVFHUQ the Spirit of God at work among us.We will focus our contemplation on God’s “voiceâ€? in our desires and interior movements, with some attention to the rules offered in the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius. Facilitator: Fr Peter McIsaac, SJ. Organised by Kingsmead Centre. At Kingsmead Centre, 8 Victoria Park Road.

Fee: $420 (non-aircon); $500 (aircon), including SD stipend. Register T: 6467 6072; E: cisc2664@gmail.com.

SEPTEMBER 12 2015, SATURDAY CHRISTIANITY AND OTHER RELIGIONS Living in multi-religious Singapore is a challenge for Christians. We have to learn to understand and relate to our fellow non-Christian Singaporeans. And what about our Christian identity? If there is only one Christian Faith as Letter to the Ephesians states, One Lord, One Faith and One Baptism, then why are there so many Christian denominations that contradict each other? A Personal Sharing and Faith Testimony by Longinus Dismas Chew. 7pm-9pm, The Training Centre@ IP, 10 Anson Road, 29-03A, International Plaza. Free Registration: http://tinyurl. com/ACT-Talk-Signup SEPTEMBER 12 2015 TEACHERS’ DAY EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATION AND RECEPTION 4.30pm: Join us to celebrate the gift of teachers. Msgr Ambrose Vaz will be celebrating the Mass. Please inform all your friends and colleagues. All are welcome! Organised by Archdiocesan Commission for Catholic Schools (ACCS). At Catholic High School (primary session), 9 Bishan Street 22.

Register T: 6858 7080 (Shirley); E: accs@catholic.org.sg; W: http//www.accs.sg.

SEPTEMBER 15 2015 SECULARISATION AND FAITH 7.30pm-9.30pm: We are all acutely aware of the dangers of the various forms of extremism in our world today. We are probably less concerned or aware of the way in which the core of our human dignity – our spiritual nature – is undermined by a radical indifference to our “religious concerns�. Where do we identify

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forms of secularisation, and how do we respond as people of “faith�? Facilitator: Fr Peter McIsaac, SJ. Organised by Kingsmead Centre. At Kingsmead Centre, 8 Victoria Park Road. Fee: $30. Register T: 6467 6072; E: cisc2664@gmail.com.

SEPTEMBER 19 2015 DIALOGUE WITH PROTESTANTS Some aspects of the challenging task in EXLOGLQJ HFXPHQLVP +DQGOLQJ GLIÂżFXOW Protestant questions on Marian devotion, Purgatory, the Pope, Confession, the True Presence, infallibility, etc. Be informed and learn to explain your Catholic Faith on these issues. Speaker: Andrew Kong.

FOC. All are Welcome. Venue: The Training Room @IP, 10 Anson Road, 29-03A, International Plaza.

Register. T: 96493893 or visit: http://tinyurl.com/ACT-Talk-Signup SEPTEMBER 23 2015 TALK OF THE TOWN WITH VERBUM DEI SISTERS Cana invites you to meet the Verbum Dei Sisters, to hear their stories, to learn about their congregation, and how they see their mission taking form in Singapore.

7.00 pm @Crossings CafÊ, $25 includes dinner. Register. T: 63384080, E: canatheplacetobe2013@gmail.com SEP 25 - SEP 27 SEP CHOICE WEEKEND It takes that 1 weekend that will inspire you for the rest of your life. Come away for a Choice Weekend – it is by WKH FKRLFHV ZH PDNH WKDW ZH GH¿QH what our life is all about. Organised by Choice Singapore at 47 Jurong West St 42, Singapore 649368. Register Hillary@9790 0537, Jacqueline@9424 2606. Info: www.choice.org.sg/ registration.htm SEPTEMBER 26 2015 EFFECTIVE PARENTING FORUM $UH \RXU NLGV DOZD\V ¿JKWLQJ" $UH \RX in the dark on their online activities?

Parenting is one of life’s toughest challenge. If you want to know how to manage your kids better and build stronger bonds within the family. Join us at this forum. Register.T: 64880278 or visit forum.familylife.sg SEPTEMBER 26 2015 THEOLOGY OF THE BODY TALK What is the Theology of the Body?

Why is this considered one of the most important legacies that Pope St John Paul II has given us? Why did he call it the basis of the most appropriate method

for mankind’s “self educationâ€? and that it “concerns the whole bible, the whole Gospel. ‌ the whole teaching, even more the whole mission of Christâ€?. Speaker: Andrew Kong, FOC, All are welcome (www.catholic.sg/act). Register.

T: 96493893 or go to: http://tinyurl.com/ ACT-Talk-Signup Venue: The Training Centre @IP, 10 Anson Road, 29-03A, International Plaza.

SEPT 27 (SUN) 2-5PM DIY COUNSELLING WORKSHOP Too expensive or awkward to see a counsellor? Learn a simple effective Skill & Process to help you manage life issues or confusions. Organised by Lifesprings Canossian Spirituality Centre, 100 Jln MerbokCost: $60. Register T:64662178 (Brenda) E: lifepsrings@singnet.com.sg.

W: www.lifespringscanossian.com OCT 2 - 4, 2015 WORKING WITH OUR DREAMS This programme will help us work ZLWK RXU VLJQLÂżFDQW GUHDPV WR KHOS XV understand their symbolic language, to listen to them, and experience them as a way in which the Divine can speak to us. Those interested in this programme DUH DVNHG WR EULQJ D VLJQLÂżFDQW GUHDP WR work on during the weekend. Fri. 8pm to Sun. 1pm. Contribution: $200/- (stay in). E: cenaclesing@gmail.com W: www. catholic.org.sg/cenacle OCT 2 TO DEC 11 2015 ALPHA AT CHURCH OF ST BERNADETTE 7.45pm - 9.45pm, Fridays. The Alpha course is an evangelistic course which seeks to introduce the basics of the Christian faith through a series of talks and discussions. Take this an opportunity to relax, eat, ask, explore, discover further what Christianity is about and to explore the meaning of life. Life is worth exploring!

Ask anything! You’ll be surprised by what you’ll discover! Church of St Bernadette (Opposite Great World City). Register Richard-9798 7788 or Andy-8322 5356 E: andy_lee_4health@yahoo.com OCTOBER 3 2015 LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE RUN 2015 Assisi Hospice and Save Our Street Dogs are holding a charity run to raise funds for their operating expenses. The fund will also go into raising awareness for Animal-Assisted Activites in Singapore. Organised by Assisi Hospice.

At East Coast Park, East Coast Park Service Road. Register W: http://www.lightupyourliferun.com/.

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Sunday September 6, 2015 CatholicNews

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